Physical activity is in decline. Are you guilty?
Recent research has uncovered some concerning facts regarding the activity levels of Australia’s mature age population.
According to Apia, the leading national insurer for over-50s, almost 50 per cent of people over 50 are less active than they were five years ago. This is despite 77 per cent of this population saying they are committed to living a healthy and active lifestyle.
Furthermore Apia’s research found that 22 per cent of those who had decreased their level of activity admitted to being very inactive.
“Growing older shouldn’t mean growing inactive,” stresses David Skapinker, Apia spokesperson. “People tend to think that as they age they no longer need to exercise as often as they did in their younger years, they may injure themselves while exercising if they are frail or weak, and only vigorous activities have any real health benefit, however this is simply not the case.”
Maintaining an active lifestyle is one of the best ways to assist in ageing well, not only from a strength and mobility perspective, but also reducing the chance of falls and injury. Regular exercise is also vital in preventing many age-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and depression. And best of all it makes you feel good through the release of endorphins as well as being a great way to relax and unwind.
There are many different ways to keep fit and active as you get older, even if you do have limitations due to injury or mobility restrictions.
So while we all face the need to adapt our health and fitness routine as we age, it’s important to continue some form of exercise rather than just cutting back or stopping. You’re never too old to gain valuable benefit from a regular exercise routine.
Try mixing up the type of activities you do to ensure you don’t get bored, and focus on incorporating the four key elements of: aerobic activity, stretching, strength and balance. You may need to gradually focus more on low impact activities such as swimming, cycling and yoga, which are not as stressful on the joints as more vigorous activities.
Another way to approach maintaining your health is incorporating small incremental exercise into your daily routine to increase activity levels. For example, where possible take the stairs instead of the elevator, try walking instead of driving to the local shops and do stretches or sit on an exercise bike while watching TV.
Finding a hobby that involves physical activity will help to keep you motivated – we’re always more inclined to do the things we find enjoyment in. And staying active and socialising at the same time can be achieved by joining a gym, or a fitness, cycling or walking group in your local area.
If you haven’t done much exercise for a while, it’s important to gradually build up activity levels to prevent injury and allow yourself time to regain strength and flexibility. It’s advisable to be aiming for around 30 minutes of exercise daily in order to gain the optimal benefit and remember to have a thorough check-up with your doctor before starting any exercise program.