Exercising is an essential way to maintain your physical and mental wellness. With benefits such as improving bone strength and cardiovascular function, exercise for seniors is especially important. As we get older, the value of regular exercise grows and becomes crucial to minimizing the risks of chronic disease, lowering the risk of injury, and improving mental health. With plenty of community lead workouts available, establishing an exercise routine can be fun and easy!
1. Improve Physical Health
A regular exercise routine can greatly improve basic health in seniors. When we age, our bodies begin to lose muscle mass. This can lead to a decrease in both balance and bone strength. With every decade that passes after we turn 30, our bodies lose about 3 to 5 percent of muscle mass.
The gradual loss of muscle decreases mobility, increases the risk of injury, and can reduce independence overall. In addition, regular exercise can mitigate the chance of falls, which is a leading cause of injury in seniors. Exercise can even help reduce the time it takes for wounds to heal by 25 percent, thus making it crucial for seniors.
At Origin we integrate fun into our exercise classes so you don't see it as an obligation but a hobby that keeps you fit. In the videos below we see Whitehorn Village by Origin's opening ceremonies and Beachball Volleyball being played at Origin at Longwood during our annual Origin Senior Games!
Opening ceremonies at Whitehorn Village by Origin:
Beachball Volleyball at Origin at Longwood:
2. Maintain Mental Health
An exercise routine is necessary to maintain your physical health, but it is equally important in improving and maintaining mental health. The benefits of exercise on our mental health are plentiful, thanks to the release of endorphins during physical activity. Endorphins are commonly referred to as feel-good hormones and act as a stress reliever. This explains the feelings of joy and satisfaction after completing an exercise.
Exercising regularly is also known to improve sleep quality. Getting enough sleep is vital for older individuals facing insomnia and unusual sleep patterns, since lack of sleep can lead to increased confusion, memory loss, and complex physical health issues.
Further, exercise can be a great form of social engagement, a known mood booster. Seniors can benefit from social interaction, and implementing an exercise plan that complements this is a great way to encourage mental wellness. Whether they form a walking team or take group fitness classes, seniors can feel a sense of purpose and reduce loneliness through communal exercise.
What could be a more fun way to get exercising and socializing than with a dancing? Below we see Swan Evergreen Village by Origin community members having a blast during their Zumba class!
3. Prevent Disease and Illness
When seniors remain active, they can significantly improve their quality of life, personal health, and ensure healthy aging. Associated with improved health is a decrease in disease and illness rates. Thus, regular exercise can help to protect elderly individuals from many chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity.
In addition, if you have already been diagnosed with one of these conditions, exercise can mitigate their symptoms and decrease the effects that an illness will have on your life.
Studies have also shown that moderate exercise boosts immunity by increasing the performance of immune cells and reducing the likelihood of contracting respiratory infections. Hence, when elders regularly exercise, they can reduce their chances of developing potentially life-threatening illnesses.
Below we see Ernie staying fit in one of our state-of-the-art fitness studios!
Find an Origin Active Senior Living Community Near You
Exercise is incredibly beneficial to seniors, as it results in health benefits across all facets of life. From improving mental health to mitigating chronic disease and injury, a balanced exercise routine can improve your quality of life.
At Origin, we are committed to providing our community members with exercise programs that encourage a longer, healthier life. See where life can take you with our Origin communities, perhaps you are on your way to becoming an Origin Athlete!
