Exercises You Can Use With Senior Population
The physiological functioning of our body begins to deteriorate after the age of 50, the muscles start to decline at a faster rate, decreased cardiac output, the low metabolic rate among other body physiological changes that prevent the body effective and efficient functioning of day to day activities. The process of aging can leave a person dependent on others for the assistance of daily activities, however, it is possible to counter and slow physiological effects of aging through regular physical activities, but it is good to mention that exercise program for the senior population should be individualized to meet the person physical needs this is because this group is categorized as a high-risk group in physical exercises and they need constant monitoring. Most people in the senior category experience difficulties with basic daily activities such as feeding, dressing, and bathing, these challenges can be addressed using ideal and customized physical activities, some of these exercises are outlined in this article so continue reading.
The senior population face challenges in doing simple tasks of daily living (ADL) like feeding, dressing, bathing as well as instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) such as cooking, shopping, and other home chores, because of aging-related chronic conditions like arthritis that significantly affect their flexibility, decreased muscle mass making it challenging for this group to withstand physical exertions for a considerable amount of time, heart conditions that put them on cardiac arrest risk among other things that make it hard to engage them in a regular exercise program. Therefore, this group can benefit from exercises that are tailored to improve ADL and IADL, the primary goal of the exercise program of the seniors should to make them independent, flexibility and fine mortar skills exercise play a vital role in this group.
Low to moderate aerobic exercises are recommended for this group, such aerobics activities include but not limited to walking, hydrodynamics exercises, swimming, and cycling, it is however recommended to maintain constant monitoring of their heart rate, blood pressure as well as their ratings of perceived exertion to make sure they are safe at all time, where applicable collect and keep their performance data which you can use to adjust, manipulate and improve the exercise program to ensure there is gradual progress on their health goals without putting them on any risks.
Because a good number of senior groups have Alzheimer’s or other degenerative brain conditions, engaging them in ADL and IADL has been established to slow this condition, activities such as walking, dancing, and cooking have been seen quite effective. Those are some physical exercises you can use for seniors.
Attributed by: read this