Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Message of the Day AGELESS People are living longer! The number of people older than 50 is expected to double between 1990 and 2020. Advances in medicine have made it possible for more people to live longer, but how about stronger? You know when you get past 50, you start to notice more aches and pains, and at that point, many seniors start to be less active, thinking that will help the pain go away. " Less moving, less pain. " But for every decade you don`t do a lot physically, your aerobic power and muscle strength decline by as much as 10 percent. That`s how people get weaker and weaker. Inactivity kills millions of Americans who could still be living on this earth if they would have only moved more! In 1998, the American College of Sports Medicine got a group of older people together and put them on an exercise program, and you know what happened? Everyone started to feel better! All of those interviewed agreed that exercise is the key to maintaining quality of life. Workouts can enhance body functions by 10-20 percent, which means you could turn back your biological clock by a decade or two! A lot of seniors have arthritis and are afraid to do anything. What is known now is that regular exercise is beneficial in breaking the arthritis cycle, and that cycle is pain leads to disuse, which leads to stiffness and weakness, which leads to more pain. Years ago, pain and inflammation were seen as indications that a joint needed to rest. Patients now accept that working a joint enough to maintain flexibility and strength may hurt a little bit, but in the long run, it will preserve function and prevent much more pain. In the late 80`s, I did a video called " and the Silver Foxes " . I traveled all around the country teaching classes at nursing homes and senior retirement communities, and I have to tell you, I saw that exercise benefited everyone physically and mentally. In a way, exercise is sort of a fountain of youth without the water! I just wish doctors could sit down and write workout prescriptions for their patients. Then we could all grow young together. When I go teaching at schools, the first question I am asked by the students is, " How old are you? You have so much energy! " And when I tell them, they`re shocked. Sometimes I`m shocked, too! Oh, God, please give me the strength to do your work and your workout. Love, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.