Why is it so important to exercise as I get older?

As we age the body sadly deteriorates in many areas: our joints get stiffer, our bones weaken, our muscles lose strength, our posture changes, our exercise tolerance reduces and our balance becomes more precarious.

The good news is that we can slow down the rate of these changes, and even reverse these changes in some instances.

In Australia, 30% of adults over the age of 65 have a fall at least once per year, and injuries resulting from these falls can have severe consequences. Australian statistics show that of those who are aged over 65 and have had a fall, 57% suffered fractures and 20% suffered head injuries.  Even worse, despite recovering from these injuries, many people lose their confidence and may not return to living independently in their homes.

You can actually improve your balance!

Recently there has been a lot of research into falls and balance issues in elderly people, and there are a number of activities that have been found to improve balance.

These include:  balance exercises done at home, balance exercise classes, Thai Chi, Pilates and dancing.

If you want to improve your balance speak to your physiotherapist who can design a Pilates program for you and tailor it to your specific needs and goals. Alternatively, join our over 60’s Pilates class ‘Spring into Action’ with me on Wednesday and Friday mornings! These classes include many balance exercises and are a fun way to keep active! Book with us today!

Written by Kathy Brooks. 

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