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Getting the right amount of exercise and good nutrition can greatly improve your health at any age.
The Benefits of Exercise
Getting the right amount of exercise and good nutrition can greatly improve your health at any age. Exercise can be even more important if you’re a senior, as it can help prolong your independence. Older adults should consider staying active as long as possible as it can help improve their balance and decrease the likelihood of falls or other injuries. If you add exercise to your routine you may also experience more energy, since exercise can promote endorphins and combat stress hormones. Exercise can also help prevent or counteract conditions such as depression, diabetes, osteoporosis, and heart disease. Staying active can also help improve the symptoms of these conditions. In addition, exercise has been known to improve brain function.
When it comes to the joints, exercise can help you strengthen your muscles and prevent injuries like falls. It can also keep your joints working properly so you can have better mobility as you age. Even those who have had joint replacements can benefit from exercise, as it can strengthen the muscles around the joint which can help prevent damage to the artificial joint.
Protecting Your Joints
There are many ways to protect your joints during exercise and daily activities. Increasing flexibility can lessen joint stiffness and stretching exercises can help prevent injury. Wearing the right footwear can also help protect your joints. Wearing shoes with cushioning and replacing worn out footwear can help prevent several common injuries. Maintaining proper posture is another good way to help protect your joints, as it can affect the disks in the spine and lead to the tightening of the muscles. Correcting your posture can help also help prevent chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain. If you have any prior joint injuries, you may also want to talk to your doctor about potentially wearing a brace or compressive sleeve, which can help combat symptoms of swelling and pain.
You should also listen to your body. Overzealous or straining exercise can impact your joints and lead to long term damage and pain. Talk with your doctor about the types of exercises that may work best for you in order to protect your joints.
What exercises should you consider?
If you are considering adding exercise to your everyday routine, you should take into consideration how activities can affect your joints. You may want to start out with exercises ideal for your fitness level. Water aerobics can improve your balance, strength and flexibility while having less of an impact on the joints as other exercises. Brisk walking, yoga, bike riding, tennis, swimming, martial arts, hiking, and dancing are also activities to consider. When it comes to adding exercise to your routine, you should be able to engage in activities you enjoy as long as they are not causing pain or discomfort. It is currently recommended that seniors engage in at least two and a half hours of moderate aerobic exercise each week, and one and a half hours of vigorous exercise. Strength training at least twice a week is also recommended. Make an appointment to talk to your doctor if you feel any dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, and joint swelling during and after exercise, as it may be a sign of a serious health condition.
If you're experiencing tingling, numbness, or weakness in your limbs, it could be a sign of nerve compression. Fortunately, there are effective treatments and therapies available to manage these conditions.
If you're experiencing tingling, numbness, or weakness in your limbs, it could be a sign of nerve compression. Fortunately, there are effective treatments and therapies available to manage these conditions.
If you're experiencing tingling, numbness, or weakness in your limbs, it could be a sign of nerve compression. Fortunately, there are effective treatments and therapies available to manage these conditions.
If you're experiencing tingling, numbness, or weakness in your limbs, it could be a sign of nerve compression. Fortunately, there are effective treatments and therapies available to manage these conditions.
