Do I Have To Change My Fitness Routine As I Get Older?
Exercise is an extremely component of a healthy lifestyle. However, as we age, our bodies take longer to heal, which can lead to physical strains, sprains, and pains. While it is necessary to keep in shape at any age, you may be asking yourself: do I have to change my fitness routine as I get older? The simple answer is yes; slight modifications should be made to your daily fitness routine. Below are a few simple tips that will keep you moving, yet minimize the risk of injury.
Do not perform the same fitness routine every day. Varying your routine will allow certain muscle groups to heal while working new muscle groups. This will not only improve overall tone and condition, it will help to minimize muscle strain.
As the body ages, muscles start to stiffen up more frequently after exercise. This stiffening increases the risk of injury. Daily stretches, yoga poses, and gentle exercises that promote a broad range of motion are great ways to keep the body flexible and keep muscles pliable.
Swimming is a great, safe, cross training exercise that provides many benefits. The upper body muscles get one of the best workouts possible, while ensuring the whole body is under low resistance. Water workouts can vary in intensity but do not have the pounding or harsh effects that can be associated with many land-based exercises. Couple swimming with a gentle resistance exercise, such as walking, for a perfect total body workout. If you do not like being in the water or do not have access to a swimming pool, consider an aerobic rider, or “swimming machine”. These exercise machines mimic the effects of swimming in water, while on dry land, yet put little stress on the body making this a very safe alternative.
Finally, as the body ages, it needs a longer time to recover from strenuous activity. Exercise techniques should be gentle and preformed over a longer period of time. After completing your fitness routine, give your body plenty of time to repair itself and make sure any pain or muscle soreness has subsided before working out again. In younger individuals muscle tissues will heal in about forty-eight hours, where as in older people, it may take as long as seventy-two hours for muscles to heal. Consuming plenty of water before, during, and after a workout ensures proper hydration, which will also aid the body in recovery.
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