The importance of exercise for older adults.
As you are already aware the human body goes thought a natural ageing process which leads to distinct muscle mass and strength decline and weakening, with a 15% loss per decade over the age of 50. Due to this older adults have an increase risk of falls. Statistics show that ever year 1 in 3 people aged 65 years and over will have a fall.
Exercises forcing on strenght lower limb and balance is an effective modality for falls prevention. Exercise is also a cheap way to manage symptoms of any chronic diseases when can include pain management for osteoarthritis and managing blood glucose levels in diabetics.
Exercise has many benefits:
- maintain and improve strenght and balance to decreased risk of falls or injury
- preserving bone density and joint health
- Prevention of muscle loss associated with ageing
- maintain quality of life and improve overall mood
- Improved mental health and reduced depression, anxiety, and stress
- reduced risk and symptoms of some chronic diseases
- Improved cognitive function
- Potential to reduce risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
An Accredited Exercise Physiologist specialise in creating safe and affective exercise plans for a range of populations including older adults. We also work a range of pathologies include but are not limited to:
- Cardiovascular – pacemakers, hypertension, chronic heart failure, heart arrhythmias and acute myocardial infarction.
- Mental Health – anxiety disorders and trauma.
- Metabolic – overweight/obesity, Type 1 and 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.
- Musculoskeletal – osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and muscle pain, injuries, or disabilities.
- Neurological/Neuromuscular – Stroke, Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, and traumatic brain injury.
- Respiratory/Pulmonary – asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cystic fibrosis.
At Southside physio our exercise physiologists aim to provide everyone with an individualise exercise plan to help prevent or manage a chronic disease, injury or age-related decline in order to help restore optimal physical function and improve their quality of life. We run a range of group classes such as forever fit and +Diabetes. Forever Fit is a class that focuses on older adults and fall prevention. This allows older adults to maintain their strenght and reduced their falls risk in a social environment.
If you have any question, please don’t hesitate to contact me (diandra@sspg.com.au) or for general questions please contact Woden: wod@sspg.com.au, Tuggeranong: tug@sspg.com.au or call either clinic Woden: 62825010 or Tuggeranong 62931955