As we get older, our bodies still require movement, whether we like it or not. There are plenty of ways exercise and participate in physical activity that will help improve our health and livelihood, especially for seniors. Surprisingly, there are differences between exercise and physical activity. Knowing what those differences are and how each can benefit your health can help people over the age of 60 maximize their potential when it comes to staying active.
Physical activity can include things like walking, jogging, biking, hiking, climbing stairs, carrying groceries or gardening.
Exercise is considered to be a specifically planned, structured, and repetitive motion such as weight training, aerobics or yoga.
But when it comes the health advantages for seniors, they’re one-in-the same.
Studies show that both exercise and physical activity can actually help in delaying and even preventing diseases like colon cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Each of these activities help increase blood flow to different parts of your body, such as the brain, and can lead to cell growth while helping prevent several types of dementia.
Maintaining proper physical balance is more important the older we become. Additionally, exercise and physical activity both play a significant role in increasing the wound-healing process by almost 25 percent. Regular physical activity has also been shown to improve physical function and have positive psychological effects.
Including regular to moderate physical activity in your normal routine can also help manage stress and improve moods, while having been shown to reduce feelings of depression and increase various aspects of cognitive function.
Freedom Home Care believes that one of the most important benefits of exercise and physical activity is increased life expectancy.
One study that was completed earlier this year involving more than 120,000 participants over a ten year period, proved that about 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week lowered the risk of early death by nearly 22 percent. This is in comparison to those who didn’t exercise at all. The same study also showed that even 15 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical exercise each week lowered the risk of heart disease and stroke in participants.
Other positive health benefits include a healthier heart, stronger bones, and improved appearance.
For more information, contact Freedom Home Care today!