May Is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month: Get Moving for Better Senior Health
May 1st marks the start of the annual National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, led by the President’s Council on Fitness Sports and Nutrition. The month highlights the importance of healthy lifestyles and being physically active, and May is the ideal time to get outside, be active, and enjoy nice weather.
Warm weather motivates people to get moving. The sunny days entice people from kids to seniors to venture outdoors for free play, participate in sports, and enjoy a healthy dose of physical activity.
While it’s great to see our youth outside and active when the weather is nice, they need physical education and activity year-round. The same goes for seniors. Regular physical activity is good for everyone’s health and people of all ages and body types can be physically active.
Here are just a few benefits of physical activity:
- It can lower risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer
- It can lower the risk of falls and improve cognitive functioning (like learning and judgment skills)
- Helps maintain the ability to live independently and reduces the risk of falling and fracturing bones
- Reduces the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and of developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes
- Can help reduce blood pressure in some people with hypertension
- Helps people with chronic, disabling conditions improve their stamina and muscle strength
- Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and fosters improvements in mood and feelings of well-being
- Helps maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints
- Helps control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis
Physical activity doesn’t need to be strenuous to achieve health benefits. Older adults can obtain significant benefits with a moderate amount of physical activity, preferably daily. A moderate amount of activity can be obtained in longer sessions of moderately intense activities (such as walking) or in shorter sessions of more vigorous activities (such as fast walking or stair walking).
Additional health benefits can be gained through greater amounts of physical activity, either by increasing the duration, intensity, or frequency. Because risk of injury increases at high levels of physical activity, care should be taken not to engage in excessive amounts of activity.
Previously sedentary older adults who begin physical activity programs should start with short intervals of moderate physical activity (5-10 minutes) and gradually build up to the desired amount. Older adults should consult with a physician before beginning a new physical activity program. In addition to cardiorespiratory endurance (aerobic) activity, older adults can benefit from muscle-strengthening activities. Stronger muscles help reduce the risk of falling and improve the ability to perform the routine tasks of daily life.
AlternativesForSeniors.com is pleased to support National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, and we’re proud of all our senior friends and loved ones who get out and get moving for better health in May and always!
BLOG Date: Thursday, May 14, 2015
Writer: Ryan Allen