Aging Is Inevitable. Disability Is Not!
I teach a program for adult and senior women who want to live an active and healthy life. To set the tone for change, I always start off by saying, “Aging is inevitable, but disability is not.”
During the program, we talk about how to prevent and manage heart disease and how to exercise and eat healthy. Of course, we talk about aging too.
So many of us just accept that the stiffness we feel when we get up—the shortness of breath we experience going up stairs—is due to aging.
A day doesn’t go by that I don’t hear my 81-year-old mom say, “I’m just old,” when we talk about some of her struggles. Yes, there are some things that occur with normal aging, but there are many more that occur due to physical inactivity.
In a recent article written by my favorite researcher and author Wayne Westcott, Ph.D, Wescott talks about the benefits of strength training in older adults. One of the realities of aging is the higher risk of falls. Research shows that among U.S. adults 65 years and older:
- one third fall each year,
- falls are the leading cause of death from injury and
- falls are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.
Research also shows that exercise can be effective in reducing the risk of falling among older adults by improving leg strength and balance.
Dr. Westcott and other colleagues found health-related benefits of strength training include
- lower blood pressure and blood lipid profiles,
- reduced risk for Type 2 diabetes,
- reduced lower back pain,
- decreased symptoms of depression and
- decreased arthritic discomfort.
Low rates of activity among older adults may be due partially to lack of motivation and education. While some may not be aware of the benefits of exercise, others may believe that it requires long, difficult, frequent exercise sessions. Not so!
Start simple. Pick two days a week to exercise. Start with less and work up to more. Remember, aging is inevitable, but disability is not. It’s your move.
atom Alliance actively works with providers and Medicare beneficiaries to improve quality of care and health. Learn more about how we strive to improve diabetes management, cardiac health and patient safety.
