Benefits of Exercise for the Elderly

Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, Arthritis, Asthma, Osteoporosis, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure. These are just some of the many challenges faced by the Elderly every day. What else do all of these conditions have in common? They can all be helped by exercise. As we age, disuse of our muscles will lead to atrophy. This basically means they start to waste away. Exercise and strength training is the best way to maintain and build our muscles and bone strength. Loss of balance and falls are another major problem affecting the Elderly. Exercises focusing on improving balance, weak skeletal muscles, postural muscles and gait training are the best tool in preventing falls in the elderly. 

Loss of independence in the Elderly is another area where exercise can really help. If an Elderly person doesn’t leave the house because they are scared to fall, doesn’t get out of their chair as it makes them tired, can’t to up their shoelaces because they have a sore back, then they have lost some independence. Exercise can help prevent the loss of independence. It can also help reverse the effects and make some people more independent again. Working with Elderly clients on a consistent basis has seen an improvement in their quality of life as well as a reduction in their Falls Risk. 

As an Exercise Physiologist I can help people with Chronic conditions, and their rehabilitation. Other benefits have included:

• Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke or Cancer.
• Preventing Osteoporosis or Muscle Atrophy.
• Identify who is at risk of a fall and prevent the fall.
• Reduce pain caused by musculoskeletal injuries such as a sore back.
• Lower blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
• Rehabilitation from an injury or fall.

Nicholas Barry, ESSAM, AEP.