Have you ever thought to yourself, “I’m too old to exercise” or “I have never exercised before; why start now?”? Well I’m here to tell you…
IT’S NOT TOO LATE!
People over the age of 60 can get health benefits even just from exercising once a week!
Yes, just once a week! That could simply mean just going for a walk down your street.
A recent study showed that older adults who started exercising 1-2x a week reduced their chance by 5% of having health issues such as stroke or heart attack. And those who exercised 3-4x a week reduced their risk of a cardiac event by 11%!
It is recommended by the World Health Organization for adults over the age of 65 should do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity OR 75 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity per week.
You might be saying to yourself that is A LOT of exercising in one go. But remember, those recommendations are for ONE WEEK. Ideally, exercising in intervals of at least 10 minutes is recommended. If you break it down even more, that’s less than 25 minutes a day!
what is the difference between MODERATE and VIGOROUS intensity?
During moderate intensity physical activity, you should be sweating a little and breathing a little harder. You should still be able to talk, but not able to sing along to your favourite song.
Vigorous physical activity will cause you to sweat more and be out of breath. You shouldn’t be able to say more than a few words without pausing for a breath.
Having variety in your exercise routine is important as well. Your weekly physical activity should include aerobic activity, muscle and bone strengthening activities as well as balance exercises.
Where do I begin?
If this is something you want to start, it is always a good idea to check in with your health care practitioner before starting!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (902) 835 5755. We would be more than happy to help you on your path to wellness!
Dr. Kristin Ling