Saturday, 25 April 2020

Debunking exercise myths

We live in a time when mental and physical health has never been more important – this goes for both senior citizens and their caregivers. There are so many benefits associated with regular exercise, some of which could even provide you with the advantage in terms of keeping this novel pandemic at bay.

For example, exercise boosts the immune system, reduces the potential impact of illness, and enhances mobility. From a psychological perspective, it can have a significant improvement on the overall quality of sleep, boost your mood, reduce stress, and keep your brain healthy and active.

However, there are a few exercise myths out there that can have a negative effect on how optimally you are able to reap the benefits as mentioned above. We debunk a few of them below.

It’s too late to start exercising if you have never done it before

No. It’s never too late to start exercising. Even if you have led a sedentary lifestyle well into your eighties, you can still benefit from gentle exercise from the moment you decide to embrace it.

It’s better to do a puzzle or a crossword

While it’s true that these activities are great stimulation for the brain, research has found that regular exercise is likely to be the biggest influencer when it comes to preserving and maintaining brain function and memory.

A walk is good enough

A brisk walk will certainly work wonders for seniors. However, it is not the only form of exercise that they can benefit from. Along with aerobic activity, seniors should also be engaging in muscle strengthening exercises, as well as exercises focused on boosting flexibility.

Exercise increases the risk of falls

Completely untrue. On the contrary, exercise reduces the risk of falls and subsequent injury. This is because it strengthens the muscles, enhances balance, and helps to maximise mobility.

Seniors with certain chronic diseases or disabilities shouldn’t exercise

The old school belief was that seniors with arthritis or osteoporosis should avoid exercise at all costs. However, new data demonstrates that that isn’t the case. Regular exercise can actually help to protect joints and foster stronger bones.

So, during times of social distancing, let gentle, consistent exercise be your physical and mental reprieve. Find an appropriate online routine that both caregiver and senior can enjoy and work your way through to the other side of this global pandemic. In a time when everything else is uncertain, one thing is for sure – the benefits of exercise far outweigh any detriments. To a large extent, your health and the health of your loved ones lies in your hands.

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