New Year, New You!
2020 marks the start of a brand new year and decade. It’s a great time to make New Year Resolutions to become more active and consider exercising on a more regular basis. Before a more senior person starts exercising or increasing their level of activity, they should consider speaking to their doctor first, particularly if any of the following applies:
· Prone to dizziness or fainting
· Taking blood pressure or cardiac medications
· Have any bone or joint issues
· Have a heart condition
· Experience shortness of breath
· Have pains in the chest, neck or arms
Here are some useful tips for older people who are thinking about becoming more active this year.
Do Something Enjoyable
Take part in an activity you enjoy. This way you are more likely to stick with it and see benefits such as increased heart health, improved bone strength and weight loss. Examples of more fun activities include swimming, cycling and dancing. All these examples tend to involve group participation, so they are great ways for older people to stay socially active, as well as physically active too.
Monitoring Progress and Scheduling
Keeping a record of activity is a great way for older people to maintain motivation and set goals to see how fitness is improving. For example, you could start with a brisk 5-minute walk but then over a 4-week period build this up to a 20-minute walk.
Creating a schedule is also great way to plan when to exercise and keep track of activity and can help with planning around other things too.
Exercise Equipment for Older Adults
It is now very common for companies to offer specialist exercise equipment for older adults. One such company is Shapemaster, a British company that design and manufacture power assisted exercise equipment, enabling everyone to exercise, of any age, ability or fitness.
Their range of power assisted exercise technology provides a ‘helping hand’ in a low impact, full-body workout circuit for exercisers who demand to work smart and effectively.
They have equipment that is safe for all age groups and abilities, as users do not need to provide the motive force to overcome inertia. There are no weight stacks to control, just safe and effective power assisted technology.
Some examples of their exercise equipment for older adults are listed below.
Cross Cycle
Promotes lower limb movement, and flexion and extension of the upper limbs. This exercise will promote strengthening of the thigh and shoulder muscles and improve aerobic fitness.
Chest & Legs Machine
Assists flexion and extension of all four limbs. The ability to move easily from sitting to standing is important for functional independence and requires strength within the extensor muscles groups. The push down action of the legs will strengthen the thigh and buttock muscles. The rowing action of the arms will strengthen the arm and shoulder muscles.
Rotary Torso
Assists in the rotation of the trunk, hips and shoulders. Rotation of the trunk is one of the first movements to decline as part of the ageing process. This is further accelerated in people with neurological changes. Reduced trunk rotation leads to loss of arm swing during walking, reduced balance, back pain and stiffness. The Rotary Torso helps to reverse or minimise these changes.
AB Pullover
Provides a combination of stretching and strengthening which helps to improve shoulder and hip flexibility and strengthen the muscles of the abdomen and back.
For more information on Shapemaster’s full range of exercise equipment for older adults, please visit www.shapemaster.co.uk/sectors/leisure
