Seniors Health: Exercise, Aerobics; Water, Sitting - Senior Solutions To A Healthier And Happier Older Age

Aerobic and cardio-vascular exercise and our senior's health? This doesn't seem to go together, especially when you can't even get out of your chair! So is it possible to develop senior solutions, as regards to fitness, with this client group? YES! YES! YES! It is all about knowing your body and your limitations as well as your abilities. This rule does not exclude older persons. Exercise for Seniors is essential for their health and wellbeing, just like anyone else. Whether they suffer with conditions associated with arthritis or heart disease, exercise and Senior fitness programs can be tailor-made especially for individual need.

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

It’s not so funny when you have cranky bones and stiff muscles. Every movement for some has to be planned. There may also be extensive use of apparatus and using the world around you to help you get about. What is this? This is about empowerment or senior solutions to movement problems. This can be what it is to be an older or elderly person.

I volunteer for the Ambulance Service. Many of my patients live in the middle of nowhere and it can be up to 40 miles to the main hospital. Of course, as people get older, they are more inclined to need hospital services to assess, plan, implement and evaluate their health care need. It is often said to me, after an appointment, “Arrh, well, it is wear and tear, you know!” Yes, wear and tear can lead to pain and restricted mobility.

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

As people get older, their bodies and cells of the body, don’t regenerate to the same standard as previously was – this helps with the aging process. However, I am not going to get into the why’s and wherefores! The fact is that, as we age, our body degenerate - seniors health can't be taken for granted!

As younger people, we take our bodies for granted. We can exercise to our hearts content, rush here and rush there without much thought of aches and pains. However, as time goes on, we start to see changes in our bodies. We can’t do as much as we used to, but our minds are always the same – all things being equal, of course!

We all know that exercise is good for us, but what if we can’t move that well? What if you have arthritis, for example? I am focusing on this condition because it is particularly debilitating and painful. The exercises suggested in this hub are also great for anyone in their twilight years.

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

Why would you be motivated to exercise when you are in pain? Well, exercise that is appropriate to arthritis, amongst other diseases (for example heart disease), can help with:

• Weight Loss - obesity in older adults is harder to resolve than younger days!
  

• Can Minimise Pain

• Boost Energy

• Keeping Joints Strong

• Help with Mobility and Agility – Have More Stamina - Be More Supple & Strong!

• Good For Your Heart - most important for heart disease!
  

• Help Make You Fitter

• Gives You A ‘Feel Good’ Sense Of Wellbeing

• Help Combat Depression

• Help You To Live Longer

• Reducing the Risk of Illness - Higher Your Immunity!
  

• Help Promote Independence – You Don’t Need As Much Help Getting Around

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

The trouble with pain is that the more pain you gain, the less exercise you want to do. The less exercise that is achieved, the easier it is to gain weight and, with this as an addition, the more pain you gain. It is a double-edged sword! Some people would say it is a no win situation. Extra weight means more pressure on your joints, back, knees, feet, ankles and hips. But is it possible to have the right exercise routine for elderly people?

Finding the right exercise for the individual can reverse this ever-decreasing cycle. This is about the right regime! It will help to manage arthritis and many other ailments that older people get.

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

The NHS recommends light to moderate exercise 30 minutes a day and aerobic exercise (enough to be breathing deeply and produce a glow to the skin) for 20 minutes, two to three times a week, if possible. This is hard on people in pain, but with the right routine, it can be managed and achieved!

The key for anyone who has arthritis, or any condition that afflicts mainly older or infirm people, is know your limitations.

• Don’t Overdo It – Build up to fitness. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so slowly does it!

• Expect Some Discomfort At First – You will find parts that you didn’t know existed! Over time, it gets better. If your body is telling you, you are doing too much – you probably are! Heed its warning! For example, if you feel pain in the joint, then this particular exercise is not right for you, so don’t continue with it.

• Always Check With A Doctor or Physiotherapist first – they can help advise you with tips to overcome problem areas and tell you whether it is safe for you.

• Watch out for feeling tired over a sustained period of time, increased joint swelling with continued pain and reduced range of movement. These are signs that you might need to be monitored by a specialist in this field and that you might be overdoing exercise.

• Try and exercise when you are in not so much pain – after medication, for example, or after rest – keep a good posture. Exercise helps achieve a good posture and body awareness will help conditions like arthritis in the long run. This is about minimising pain.

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

Swimming, aqua swim or just walking in the swimming pool is a good exercise. The water keeps people buoyant and alleviates stress on the body whilst exercising. Even during a flare up of arthritis exercises, like water activities, it is important to keep up. Swelling and stiffness can worsen during these flare up periods, so it is advisable to listen to your body and minimise the more strenuous activities. Again, the key here is listen to your body! When the flare up subsides, you can then build up again. In the following video there is some great practical advice in the area of aqua aerobics. I hope you will find this helpful.

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

Armchair exercises are brilliant for older people. The wii can offer lots of exciting sports games that will get people moving without leaving the chair. Not only are these mentally stimulating but adds an edge of daring, whilst encouraging movement. The following games and consoles are recommended to help get fit without leaving the home!

Now Amazon have a great selection of Wii products to get you active. Why don't you purchase some, have some fun and get fit too!

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

If you are a technophobic, Arthritis Care.org has some great diagrams and instructions that can help get older or elderly people more active. This website has been an inspiration to this hub and I recommend you take a read – whether you have arthritis, infirm, have difficulties in movement or elderly, it really is a must! Please click here and scroll down to ‘Our Exercise and Arthritis booklet’ for a PDF download. Here you will find some amazing diagrams and instructions to help you exercise safely.

What about joining a group or organising one of your own? Just because you are older doesn’t mean you don’t have a wealth of experience, wisdom and capacity to learn! Far from it! You are the citizen’s that are the pioneers and mentors for the younger generation… maybe your legacy is to show ‘us youngen’s’ how it is done and help us to prepare and enjoy the third age.

Please find a fun way in the following video for people to exercise to. Music and movement is a great way to help with mobility problems and achieve the ‘feel good’ factor. Hope you enjoy this idea and that you might take up the challenge to join a group, or set one up yourself, and have fun, fun, fun!

Useful Sources For Reference Purposes:

http://www.thirdage.com/

arthritiscare.org.uk/uk

helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb

© This work is covered under Creative Commons License

-* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--* -*--*

Have you got a story? Why Not Write It and GET PAID!

For anyone who wants to bring out the writer in them and earn a bit of dosh at the same time, why not join hubpages!

Just click here and follow the links!