Best Types of Exercises for Older Adults

Lake Oconee Boomers

Best Types of Exercises for Older Adults

Exercise is something that will benefit people of any age, but it’s especially important for people who are a bit older. While exercise is necessary in a general sense to keep your body healthy, it is especially important for helping you maintain your quality of life outside the gym. With age, it becomes harder to get around and do regular daily chores. Exercise can help older adults retain strength, mobility, and balance. Certain exercises are better and safer for different ages, so it is important to know the best ones for your age group. Here, we will look at some of the best types of exercises for older adults.

Swimming

Right off the bat, one of the best types of exercises for older adults is swimming. It works as a great way for a person to increase their cardiovascular fitness. A good cardio workout will help keep the heart strong, which is incredibly necessary as you get older. Swimming also helps strengthen various muscles. As we age, we gradually lose muscle mass, which not only weakens the body but can cause more pain on the joints. One of the best things about swimming is that it’s a low impact exercise. This makes it a popular option for exercise for many older adults.

Yoga

Another exercise that is low impact on the joints is yoga. While it is easy on the joints, it still involves balancing and supporting your body’s weight as you move through each position. Yoga is designed to build muscle strength, core stability, and increase aerobic fitness. An important aspect of yoga is that it targets all parts of the body. This is vital for older adults, as it will help increase their full body mobility. Not only can yoga build your muscles, but it can also strengthen your bones.

Resistance Band Workouts

Equipment-free training is always a great option, as it is generally very safe, but there are some good equipment-based options that can be safe for older adults as well. Workouts that use resistance bands are good examples of this. Resistance bands can help challenge and strengthen the muscles in unique ways. Some resistance band workouts are even more effective than traditional equipment-free training. Using bands, rows, and other pulling motions are great for strengthening your back. This is a great option if you are a senior looking for exercises to improve your posture as well.

Cycling

This is a great option for older adults who want to strengthen their legs. Keeping your legs healthy and strong in old age is a key to retaining your mobility. Again, cycling is a low impact exercise, which makes it a great option for any age. It’s also a great option if you are looking for a fun workout. Taking a bicycle out on a beautiful nature trail is a great way to enjoy some needed exercise. For those who are considerably older, an indoor stationary bike may be safer. Either way, this is a great option for cardio exercise.