If you don't use it you will lose it!

At any age it is important to take part in regular exercise to be healthy. However, as we get older it is essential to stay active to combat the effects of ageing. 

 

Many people believe that as we get older it is normal:

• to lose muscle strength
• to become less mobile
• to be less flexible
• to have slower reaction times
• to have a failing memory

Many people believe that declines in physical and mental ability are a natural part of the ageing process.

The truth is:
An inactive lifestyle is a far greater threat to physical and mental health than the processes of ageing.

For some adults there is an expectation that reaching the age of retirement is a sign to ‘slow down’ and take it easy. However, if you don’t continue to use your muscles and exercise your heart and lungs, you will notice that you have less energy, and that every day tasks such as shopping, cooking, cleaning and even personal care can become more of an effort.

 ‘If you don’t use it you will lose it!'

The advice from the Chief Medical Officer is that older adults also need to take part in 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity at least five times a week to be healthy.

If older, frailer adults don’t have the fitness level/ ability to maintain an activity for 30 minutes at a time, then the advice is that any activity is better than none at all.

You don’t have to do your 30 minutes all in one go. You can split your 30 minutes up into bouts of 10 or 15 minutes. You could begin with five minutes three times a day and gradually build up to the 30 minute target.

There is substantial evidence that regular physical activity plays an important part in maintaining and improving the physical and mental health of older adults. Exercise has many measurable benefits: see full benefits of Physical Activity

Even chair based exercise programmes have been proven to:

• Increase muscle strength
• Increase flexibility
• Reduce depression
• Reduce body fat
• Reduce pain from arthritis
• Reduce the risk of falls
• Improve the ability to perform everyday tasks (ie washing and dressing ) which allows older adults to maintain the ability to live independently.

Search for activities that can help you keep active!