Are You Elderly? Six Reasons You Should Exercise

Regular exercise for the elderly offers great benefits, including extending lifespan.

Photo by Henry Be on Unsplash

Exercise is good for us. Still, some believe that one should try to do less with each passing year and take it easy. Is that approach correct? The answer for many is no. Despite the known value of physical activity, only about a quarter of individuals ages 65 to 74 exercise regularly. Here is the take of the National Institute for Ageing:

Exercise is suitable for people of any age. Physical activity can help with many chronic conditions. And contrary to popular belief, weakness and low balance are linked to inactivity, rather than age.

If you need the motivation to move, here are some reasons you should do so:

• You may live longer. Simple activities such as walking 150 minutes per week (for example, thirty minutes for five days per week) may add three to five years to your lifespan. Whatever you do, try to minimize the time you spend being sedentary. The World Health Organization offers the provocative observation that leading a sedentary lifestyle is a top ten cause of death and disability.
• You may drop your risk of traumatic falls. By getting some physical activity, you may improve your muscle strength and bone density as well. And then there are the improvements in balance…