It is not uncommon to have seniors who have lived to be 100 comment on wishing they'd exercised more if only they'd known they'd live this long. But, there are still others who do not realize the importance of exercising after a certain age or of the devastating effect of the natural aging process on their muscles, which can put them in a debilitating condition if care is not taken in time to attend to common aches and pains.
Of course, the fact of good genes contributing to the good health of some seniors even when they lead seemingly unhealthy lifestyles cannot be denied, but the truth is longevity is not always a boon for every senior and some may actually suffer through their old age if they do not take the necessary precautions or change their lifestyles to accommodate regular physical exercise in their life
Regular physical exercise is known to improve the quality of life during youth by reversing the signs of aging, increasing energy levels, encouraging better sleep patterns, reducing stress, improving the immune system, building better cardio health and even providing relief from psychological issues like depression and irritability. The best part of exercising regularly is that it is never too late to begin a basic program, even for senior persons.
In the US alone, statistics reported by the ACSM (College of Sports Medicine in America) bring to light thought-provoking figures for the population segment of seniors (over 65 years) reaching the 70 million mark by 2030. The same study reveals that persons over the age of 85 will constitute the fastest growing division of the American population, which means a fairly good number have already reached this stage or are approaching it - and this is the segment that needs to understand the importance of regular exercise for healthy muscles.
With the natural aging process, there is a decline in the muscle mass of the body; this starts during the forties for most people and adults in this segment can lose from 3 to 5 percent of muscle mass every 10 years, with this increasing another 1 or 2 percent after crossing 50.
Now, since muscles helps one stay strong, by burning calories thus aiding weight maintenance efforts, besides helping keep the balance going with bone strength and keeping one mobile, thus active, it is important to look after these in order to hold on to one's independence.
Seniors reading this article should take heart in the findings of the latest medical studies that promote proven ways to increase muscle mass to reduce adverse effects of aging with ways such as weight lifting and body toning workouts as muscle mass can be boosted even with age with optimized results recorded for these efforts in response to exercise, according to the study conducted on Boston nursing home patients aged 72 to 98 years. Both senior men and women participated in this research program and underwent weight lifting sessions designed for older adults based on exercises that required them to lift their legs thrice weekly across a 10-week program and the study found thigh muscle mass of the respondents had increased by 2.7%, their speed of walking had gone up by an amazing 12% - and hold your breath - their leg strength had improved by a huge 113%!
So, no matter how old a person is, with the right guidance, he or she can exercise their way to a ripe old age and celebrate every milestone.
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