How often should a senior citizen exercise?
Experts say seniors should do their best to be as active as possible. It is harmless for most adults older than 65 to exercise, even those suffering from chronic illnesses including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis. Most of these conditions improve with exercise.
The National Institutes of Health advises that seniors participate in 150 minutes of modest aerobic activity weekly, mixing that activity with strength conditioning, balance, and flexibility exercises.
Seniors aged 65 and older should take at least 2.5 hours of moderate aerobic exercise (brisk walking) every week. That averages out to around 30 minutes on full days of the week. Or you should get 1 hour and 15 minutes of strenuous exercise (such as jogging) each week.
It is also recommended to do strength training at least two days a week. You can work on balance and flexibility every day. It’s beneficial for seniors to know walking will do your body a lot of good.
Numerous seniors don’t have the flexibility, ability, or inclination to begin a regular exercise routine; nevertheless, walking can be done just about anywhere. The individual’s knowledge and stamina can vary in walking distances.
Ordinarily, seniors in good health should walk between 2,000 and 9,000 steps daily. Before undertaking any new exercise program, keep in mind that check with your physician. Your physician can help you prepare for and plan the types of physical activity that would be healthiest for you.