Exercising when
you’re older...changing expectations
Newswise — No matter how well you take care of yourself, it’s not
realistic to think your body can do at 65 what it did at 45 or even
55. That doesn’t mean you should reduce physical activities. It does
mean you’ll need to modify your expectations.
How your body changes -- As you
age, the maximum pumping capacity of your heart declines, resulting
in less oxygen to exercising muscles and a decrease in your
cardiovascular fitness. Your muscles lose some strength and mass and
become less flexible, as do your tendons and joints. It takes longer
to recover from a muscle strain, sprain, trauma or injury.
The March issue of Mayo Clinic
Women’s HealthSource says that by staying physically active, you
can help minimize nearly all of these effects of aging. But the
physical activities you choose as you age will likely change.
This isn’t to say you should
reduce your physical activity. It means modifying your activities to
accommodate change. For example, if you’ve been a jogger most of
your life, you may need to switch to walking to protect your joints.
Or if you were a high-intensity aerobics buff, you may need to try
low-intensity aerobics, yoga, tai chi or Pilates. The important goal
is to remain fit.
Fit at any age -- If you’ve had to
slow down the treadmill a bit or make other activity changes, how do
you know if you’re fit? Make an honest assessment of your own
physical abilities. Can you perform daily tasks without fatigue? Can
you perform moderately intense activities and talk at the same time?
These are both signs of being fit. And no matter what your age or
where you are on the fitness scale, you can always improve your
personal fitness level.
Here are highlights from the March
issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource. You may cite this
publication as often as you wish. Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource
attribution is required.
Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource
is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive
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