.: Physical Activity in Senior Citizens

It is well known that physical activity has numerous health benefits for people of all ages including helping the body to ward off numerous chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and depression. As many of these health conditions are associated with aging, the importance of physical activity is amplified for older people.

The idea of committing to a new exercise regime can be quite daunting. It has been found, however that this need not be the case. Relatively simple activities such as walking can, over time, increase one’s overall fitness level, improving metabolism as well as levels of mobility and balance. In addition, physical activity triggers the release of endorphins, or the “feel good” hormones in a person’s body. As an added bonus, spending time outdoors will increase one’s vitamin D levels, which has numerous health benefits in its own right.

With the approach of Spring, walking becomes an increasingly realistic addition to one’s daily routine. As with all forms of exercise, it is recommended that people take care not to exert themselves too much at the beginning. Rather, it is important to begin with what is comfortable and slowly increase the distance that is covered over an extended period of time.