Staying fit and active as you get older is key for long-term health, wellness, and peace of mind. It can be stressful and depressing to get older and feel your body aging. But combating the natural aging process by remaining active, functional fitness training, getting out and doing social events, and partaking in mentally invigorating activities is the real key to staying and looking young.
Functional Fitness for the older population is extremely important to stay fit, keep muscle, and prevent accidents that can cause long-term injuries. Let’s look at a few principles of functional fitness and ways to stay active as you get older to not only boost your physical health but enjoy the long-term perks of better psychological stability, mental awareness, and social life that keep you feeling youthful.
Principles of Functional Fitness
If you are looking to train a elderly person in the gym as a personal trainer, or even an older student who has recently retired from work and going about his day then this could be intimidating. However, some of the following points that you need to consider when planning your exercise program or getting down a workout plan for seniors can assist in safely designing an immune-to-fail, effective and well-thought schedule.
While seniors in the above age brackets should focus primarily on joint flexibility, mobility and movement. Without proprioception, balance and flexibility, the likelihood of a senior falling increases dramatically along with injuries sustained from falls. Soreness and pain can be reduced through range of motion workouts and everyday movement patterns.
Next, strength-building exercises (lunges, squats and lifting weights, etc.) are great for balance, coordination as well to keep your muscles. Functional strength is important if you want to be able carry your own groceries, walk up and down the stairs or even stand up from a chair by yourself as you get older.
Lastly, seniors need to take care of cognitive enhancement and mental toughness. Whatever the reason, people feel that getting older means everything slows down as a natural process of aging. But, by incorporating a brain-focused element to your workout—like using colors, numbers, puzzles and the like while ‘doing’ exercises — you can start having more fun working at being fit over age 50.
Benefits of Functional Fitness
Functional fitness does, for the aged, a lot of good in helping them keep healthy and fit as they grow older. In most cases, many seniors lose their independence and have to depend on others as they grow older. They may even be placed in nursing homes or left to the family members.
When seniors take up a gym routine, it can help them fight isolation, depression, and anxiety. Hence, leading more meaningful and fulfilling lives. Moreover, functional fitness greatly helps in lowering the chances of falls and other accidents among the elderly. As people grow older, there is a decrease in balance, strength, and proprioception which are to be blamed for making individuals more prone to falls. Therefore, by developing their body mechanics plus strength and environmental perception, they can greatly reduce the risk of such happenings.
Lastly, exercise is a great way for older people to improve their mood and social skills. At times, as people age, their circle of friends begins diminishing; likewise, the urge to go out weakens. Working out and socializing while in the gym or during an exercise class is great for mental and psychological health.
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This article is simply intended to provide information. It is not intended to replace the advice from a physician. Please speak with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns
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