Facts About Exercise and Aging
It’s true, time marches on. We urge you to be encouraged, studies prove over and over that improvements in physical function are possible well into older adulthood. At S2S® Functional Performance, our team understands the effects aging places on your body. We have the expertise to help you feel confident and safe as you enter a new exercise regime or look to enhance your current fitness levels.
With the right professionals as well as the right type and amount of physical activity, we can help stave off many age-related health problems and live life to its fullest.
Here are some facts about exercise and aging:
You can get stronger when you’re older.
Research shows improvements in strength and physical function are possible in your 60s, 70s, and even 80s and older, with an appropriate exercise program. Progressive resistance training, in which muscles are exercised against resistance that gets more difficult as strength improves, has been shown to prevent frailty. At S2S® we use light weight equipment such as Pilates machines, TRX® suspension trainers and 1:1 instruction to provide the best tools and environment for your individual strength needs. We take time to match your needs with your current ability and the goals you have for performing activities better.
You can lower your risk of many diseases, including diabetes with exercise.
Nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes, and only 21 million know they have it. Obesity and physical inactivity can put you at risk for this disease. But a regular appropriate physical activity routine is one of the best ways to prevent, and manage, type 2 diabetes.
Exercise can help you avoid falls—and keep your independence.
About 1 in 4 US older adults fall each year. Despite this statistic falling is not a normal part of aging, and you can reduce your risk of falls.
The team at S2S® is equipped to help assess your risk of falling through standardized tests, designing an individualized prevention plan that includes exercises and balance training. We provide education so that your exercises can be done both under supervision as well as on your own.
Exercise can improve the strength of your bones.
Osteoporosis or weak bones affects more than half of Americans over the age of 50. Exercises that keep you on your feet like walking, TRX®, balance activities, and resistance exercises, such as gentle weightlifting and the Pilates reformer can improve bone strength and/or reduce bone loss.
You can improve the function of your heart.
Heart disease is the number 1 cause of death in the US. Exercise is one of the top ways of preventing it and other cardiovascular diseases. Research shows that if you already have heart disease, appropriate exercise can improve your health.
Movement and Exercise elevate brain function!
Physically active people—even later in life—are less likely to develop memory problems or Alzheimer’s disease, a condition affecting more than 40% of people over the age of 85.
It has been proven that moderate-to-vigorous exercise can reduce the risk of cognitive decline by 36%. After 3 years, people who performed moderate-to-vigorous levels of physical activity were significantly less likely to experience cognitive problems than those who were sedentary or did light physical activity. Additionally, accountability and a regular exercise routine will prevent stress, depression and overall improve coping skills needed for all of life’s unfortunate events.
Get Started Today!
Exercise and aging doesn’t have to be a challenge. The team at S2S is prepared to help you enjoy your life at all stages and throughout all decades! Choosing the right type of exercise is key to long term health and an active lifestyle. We are movement experts who can help you optimize quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. Call us: (940) 241-1215. To purchase an Exercise Orientation session at S2S in Flower Mound, Click Here.
