Quite often people assume there is an inevitable decline in fitness as you get older; however this does not necessarily need to be the case. Of course, there are circumstances and certain conditions that can have a major impact on your level of health, but more often than not, the rate at which your body deconditions as you grow older can often be completely up to you. It is never too late to get moving again and begin a regular exercise routine to improve your health and fitness. Our Accredited Exercise Physiologist specialises in helping older people get back into exercise, which can have a huge impact on improving your quality of life and level of independence. We run individual or group exercise classes and can focus on all areas of fitness, whether you are looking to walk further, increase your strength, improve your balance or all of the above.
If you are looking to start exercising as an older person, there are a few things to keep in mind:
It is very important not to rush into exercise and wear yourself out within the first week. Start at a low intensity once or twice a week with an exercise such as walking or riding an exercise bike. As your body becomes accustomed to the exercise, it will adapt and cope with increases in load and intensity. The best way to properly pace yourself if you are beginning a new exercise regime is to seek the guidance of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist. These health professionals have the knowledge and expertise to ensure that you are appropriately exercising for your body and situation.
It is also vital to ensure that if you have a chronic health condition, you seek clarification from your GP or specialist as to whether you should avoid any particular types or intensities of exercise. Once you have the all-clear from your GP, an Accredited Exercise Physiologist can appropriately prescribe exercise to not only avoid placing you at risk, but also help to improve your health in whatever condition you may have.