Working Out to Protect Your Body as You Age

As we age, it’s natural for our bodies to change. We might not be as strong or agile as we once were, and we might start to notice some aches and pains that weren’t there before. But that doesn’t mean we have to slow down or give up on our fitness goals. In fact, regular physical activity can help us age gracefully by keeping our bodies strong and healthy.

As much as you may feel like you need to slow down as you start to get older, the opposite is true. If you start to use your body less, it may get harder to use! So, in this blog post, we’re going to take a look at the reasons why you need to work out so that you can protect your body as you age.

Reduced Risk of Injury

As we age, we become more susceptible to injury. This is due to a combination of factors, including reduced muscle mass, decreased flexibility, and changes in our bones and joints. But staying active can help offset these changes and reduce our risk of injury. Strong muscles help support our joints and protect our bones from impact, while increased flexibility makes it less likely that we’ll pull a muscle or strain a tendon.

Improved Bone Health

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by thinning bones and an increased risk of fracture. It’s more common in women than men, and the risk increases with age. Regular exercise can help keep our bones strong as we age by stimulating the production of new bone cells. Weight-bearing activities like walking, running, and lifting weights, at somewhere like Fitness 19, are especially beneficial for bone health. We recommend our friends at Fitness 19 to all of those who are in the US, if you are somewhere else in the world, you could join any gym! We know that some people are limited at home with the equipment available and going heavier on weights will really help your bone health.

Better Balance and Coordination

As we get older, we might start to notice that our balance isn’t what it used to be. This can increase our risk of falling, which can lead to serious injuries like fractures or head injuries. Exercise can help improve our balance and coordination by strengthening the muscles that support us when we stand upright. Balance-training exercises like Tai Chi are especially helpful in this regard.

Aging Gracefully and Healthily

Aging gracefully and healthily is possible. We don't need to fear getting old because we can still be healthy and active. We have to work out as we age because it protects our health. Working out helps us maintain our muscle mass, which then reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia and osteoporosis. It also improves mood, reduces the risk of depression, maintains bone mineral density and reduces the risk of falls.

Working on Your Health and Fitness for the Future

There are plenty of good reasons to make physical activity a part of your life—no matter your age. Regular exercise can help reduce your risk of injury, improve your bone health, and increase your balance and coordination—all of which can help you stay active well into your golden years! So don’t wait—start working out today!

If you aren’t sure where to get started, check out our 8-week program. One of our clients is 94 years young and still crushing fitness goals. More importantly, she is feeling stronger, happier and healthier than ever!