{"id":2564,"date":"2019-01-30T14:42:59","date_gmt":"2019-01-30T19:42:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/assistinghands.com\/6\/?p=2564"},"modified":"2019-01-30T14:42:59","modified_gmt":"2019-01-30T19:42:59","slug":"exercise-every-little-bit-helps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/6\/newjersey\/centralnj\/blog\/exercise-every-little-bit-helps\/","title":{"rendered":"Exercise: Every Little Bit Helps!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Was “get more exercise” on your list of New Year’s resolutions? Maybe you are caring for an older adult who has slowed down quite a bit? Here are some things you should know.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Exercise doesn\u2019t need to feel like a chore. So for so many of us, why does it? A recent poll published in the Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine suggested one culprit: school gym class. Apparently, the PE classes of yesteryear turned quite a few people off of exercise for life. Years later, the people interviewed recalled boring calisthenics, yelling teachers, uncomfortable comparisons with others, and the humiliation of being picked last when teams were chosen \u2026 to say nothing of embarrassment and bullying in the shower room. For many of us, physical fitness seemed like an unpleasant obligation that we were quick to abandon once we weren\u2019t being graded.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s too bad, because study after study shows that staying physically active is the top factor when it comes to healthy aging. Exercise strengthens our muscles, heart and lungs. It staves off a host of diseases. Exercise is one of the best things we can do for our brains, as well. For example, you\u2019re probably familiar with those \u201ctip of the tongue\u201d memory lapses where you find yourself saying \u201cWait, wait, don\u2019t tell me!\u201d A 2018 study from the University of Birmingham in the UK found that seniors who exercise regularly struggle much less to find words to express themselves.<\/p>\n

So this year, resolve to break up with your old attitude and develop a new relationship with exercise. Here are five things to remember as you give your fitness routine a makeover:<\/p>\n

Getting started may be the hardest part.<\/strong>\u00a0You might first need to overcome an aversion to exercise. This isn\u2019t just a matter of habit; scientists point out that our ancestors had to work pretty hard for a living\u2014hunting, gathering, planting and harvesting. They didn\u2019t have calories to spare! So for most of us, there\u2019s an inborn tendency to want to rest. But with regular exercise, our bodies begin to crave the good feeling we get when we move.<\/p>\n

Exercise isn\u2019t only for athletes.<\/strong>\u00a0There\u2019s an exercise plan for people of every ability. Seniors who are living with a disability, such as mobility challenges, vision and hearing loss or dementia, should ask the doctor about a program of adapted activities. Get a \u201cprescription\u201d for the amount and type of exercise that is right for your overall health, including any health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease or arthritis, that might make certain motions and activities unsafe for you. Before you sign up for an exercise class or gym membership, be sure the instructors are qualified for your needs.<\/p>\n

Exercise with a friend.<\/strong>\u00a0A 2018 study from the University of British Columbia found that older adults are much more likely to be active if they work out with a buddy\u2014and especially, noted the researchers, if the other person is near their age. Check out exercise classes at the senior center, your senior living community or parks and recreation department.<\/p>\n

No need for a marathon.<\/strong>\u00a0Studies show that several shorter workouts every day can be just as effective as a longer session. Anything that gets us moving is good. A recent study from Tufts University on a group of seniors aged 70\u201489 who hadn\u2019t been exercising found, \u201cAdding 48 minutes of moderate exercise per week is associated with improvements in overall physical functioning and decreases in risks of immobility in older adults who are sedentary.\u201d Walking, dancing, gardening, even doing housework provide small doses of exercise that can add up. Tai chi and yoga also offer a surprising amount of strength building, and help prevent falls. The main thing is to find a safe, effective exercise program\u2014and here\u2019s the key to success\u2014that you enjoy.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s good for caregivers, too.<\/strong>\u00a0A second 2018 study from the University of British Columbia found that family caregivers who exercised regularly had reduced stress, better cardiorespiratory fitness, a healthier body weight\u2014and they were even healthier on the cellular level, with changes to their chromosomes that are believed to slow cellular aging.<\/p>\n

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Home care can help<\/strong><\/p>\n

When it comes to keeping seniors active, professional home care services can be a big plus. The caregiver can provide supervision and encouragement during exercise at home, or take clients out to an exercise class, to the pool, or for a walk at the mall when it\u2019s too cold, too hot, or raining.<\/p>\n

The University of British Columbia study on exercise for caregivers found that many say there just isn\u2019t time for it. Said lead researcher Prof. Eli Puterman, \u201cWhat caregivers need is support for healthy behaviors, because that is one of the first things to drop when you become a family caregiver. The time to take care of yourself just goes out the window.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a professional caregiver taking over some of the personal care, health care management and other tasks, this frees up precious time so family caregivers can focus on their own health\u2014and that includes exercise.<\/p>\n

Source: Assisting Hands Home Care in association with IlluminAge. Copyright \u00a9 IlluminAge, 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Was “get more exercise” on your list of New Year’s resolutions? Maybe you are caring for an older adult who has slowed down quite a bit? Here are some things you should know. Exercise doesn\u2019t need to feel like a chore. So for so many of us, why does it? A recent poll published in the Translational Journal of the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nExercise: Every Little Bit Helps! - Central New Jersey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/6\/newjersey\/centralnj\/blog\/exercise-every-little-bit-helps\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Exercise: Every Little Bit Helps! - Central New Jersey\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Was “get more exercise” on your list of New Year’s resolutions? 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