Physical fitness is important at every age. Being physically fit reduces your risk of facing many different health conditions, like stroke and high blood pressure, as well as keeping you mentally sharp. You are never too old or too out of shape to start exercising and improving your health.
Talk to your doctor about developing an exercise regimen that suits your needs. If you receive free home healthcare services, your home healthcare provider can help you create and maintain this regimen by scheduling exercise classes with you, taking you to the gym or exercise studio, and helping you stick to your exercise schedule. Below are a few types of exercise that are great for older individuals:
Wall Push Ups
Just like traditional push ups, wall push ups build your arm and upper body strength. The difference between these and traditional push ups is that you remain standing while doing wall push ups, which can keep you from potentially hurting your knees or being unable to stand back up. Simply place your hands on the wall shoulder width apart, then bend your arms to lower your body closer to the wall, then extend them to “push up” against the wall.
Chair Squats
Like regular squats, chair squats increase lower body strength. Unlike regular squats, chair squats involve using a chair for support. The form for chair squats is nearly identical to the form for regular squats, and the exercise is simply using your lower body strength to lower yourself onto the chair, then rise up again for a set number of reps.
Swimming and Aqua Aerobics
Swimming and aquatic aerobics are two popular cardio exercise choices for older adults because in the water, there is no pressure on the joints.
Yoga
Yoga is a popular type of exercise with many older adults for a variety of reasons. Yoga has many physical benefits, like increasing balance and core strength as well as mental benefits like reducing stress and providing a sense of calm.
There are many different ways to do yoga, so if you are unable to do regular yoga on a mat, try chair yoga. Chair yoga is a set of modifications to common yoga poses that make them possible to do while seated in a chair.
Elliptical Workouts
Cardiovascular exercise is important because it burns calories, lowers your blood pressure, and improves your heart strength. Using an elliptical machine to do cardio is a great choice for older adults because with the elliptical, there is less pressure on your joints than there is when running on a treadmill or on the ground.
Work with a Home Healthcare Provider Who Can Help You Stay Fit
If you qualify for free home healthcare services under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) or the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICPA), contact our team at United Energy Workers Healthcare and Four Corners Health Care to learn more about how we can help you stay healthy and fit now and in the years to come.
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In order to be eligible for EEOICPA/RECA benefits, an individual must have been employed at a covered Department of Energy facility, an approved atomic weapons facility, or at a permitted beryllium vendor. An individual must also have one of the covered conditions as a result of exposure to radiation, beryllium, or silica while employed at an accepted facility. In addition, uranium miners, millers, and ore transporters are eligible for benefits if they develop an illness as a result of exposure to toxic substances (such as radiation, chemicals, solvents, acids, and metals) and worked at a facility covered under RECA. Eligibility requirements vary by location and condition.