Healthy Seniors Love Water Exercises

We all know that exercise is necessary to keep the body and mind in peak working condition. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), healthy seniors need to be staying physically active, because it is helping prevent or delaying many diseases and disabilities. But as we grow older, exercise can become more challenging due to physical limitations such as joint pain, back problems, or a fear of becoming injured.

That’s where water comes in. Swimming, water aerobics and aquatic therapy are all excellent choices for seniors. These exercises provide a total body workout, building strength, endurance and flexibility. These types of exercises are also low-impact activities, which make them ideal for people with joint or back pain. Water buoys and supports the body, taking the pressure off muscles and joints.

6 Benefits of Water of Exercise for Healthy Seniors:

1. Build and tone muscles. Water is approximately 12 times denser than air, so when you move through water, you’re performing a resistance exercise. This resistance builds and tones muscles. According to the NIH, resistance exercises appear to have the greatest positive effect on bone mineral density, thus lowering your risk for osteoporosis.
2. Increase your flexibility. Being in water (especially warm water) may lessen joint stiffness and pain. This make it easier to move and increase joint flexibility. Swimming is particularly helpful for increasing flexibility in the hips, arms, and legs. This increased flexibility reduces the likelihood of injury.
3. Improve your mind. Healthy seniors who might avoid other types of exercise are more likely to keep up with a water exercise program. This is good news! In addition to improving the body, physical activity also is important for brain health. According to the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation, physical exercise reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 50 percent. Other studies show that regular exercise can reduce stress and improve your mood.
4. Decrease your risk of falls. One of the reason seniors often avoid exercising is their fear of falling or injuring themselves. Water’s natural buoyancy supports the body, making falling virtually impossible and reducing the risk of injury. Additionally, the strength and flexibility you gain from working out in water also help prevent your risk of falling.
5. Keep your heart healthy. Swimming and water aerobics are great exercises for healthy seniors because it’s making the heart stronger and more efficient. According to the NIH, not only does regular aerobic exercise reduce the risk of coronary disease, but it also lowers inflammation by preventing fatty deposits in the arteries.
6. Socialization. Finally, taking a water aerobics class or swimming in a public pool offers socialization opportunities for seniors, reducing their risk of isolation and loneliness.

So what are you waiting for? Jump on in! The waters fine!

Sourece: ImmuminAge AgeWise 2015