Life's daily stresses, including loss of a spouse, loss of independence, declining health or financial worries, may lead to depression in the elderly, according to HelpGuide.org. To combat depression, many seniors turn to taking anti-depressant...
You can help reduce the effect of aging with exercise. This is especially true in the elderly population, which can benefit from both aerobic and strength-training exercises that will help with weight reduction and bone strengthening.
Diet and exercise have a direct impact on the quality of life of seniors in their later years. According to the National Institute on Aging, regular physical exercise and proper nutrition can help seniors remain independent for longer. This...
Experiments clearly suggests that exercise leading to improved physical fitness can change both the structure and function of the brains of older animals, according to Arthur F. Kramer and colleagues, who published their findings in the August...
Nursing homes have a negative stigma attached to them in the United States. Many people believe that nursing homes can't provide a high quality of life to their residents. Adding an exercise program for the elderly in nursing homes can help...
Reduced mobility can be a common contributor to poor physical fitness among the elderly. But while many senior citizens become increasingly sedentary as they advance in years, others maintain their youth and mobility by engaging in regular outdoor...
If you have been diagnosed with heart disease, you may feel intimidated to exercise, especially if you are older and aren't very active. But a sedentary lifestyle probably helped lead to a heart condition in the first place. Modified and moderate...
Elderly people who are wheelchair bound are at risk of becoming completely physically inactive. Like people of all ages, the elderly need adequate exercise to keep the body flexible and strong and to keep the heart healthy. When planning an...
Getting older shouldn't mean hanging up your sneakers. In fact, seniors should continue to get as much exercise as possible to retain balance, coordination and strength. Don't worry if spending hours on a treadmill isn't your thing. You can spend...
Staying fit doesn't have to end when you hit retirement age. Being a senior shouldn't mean embracing a sedentary lifestyle. There are many exercises you can perform to ensure your muscles and joints function properly. Keeping your legs strong is a...
Exercise is good for everyone and can be especially beneficial for counteracting the negative effects of aging. For people over age 65, increasing your activity level can improve your diabetes, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Regular...
An article by health specialist Jane E. Brody was published in the June 24, 2008, "New York Times." The story, titled "Fit, Not Frail: Exercise as a Tonic for Aging," revealed some basic facts about aging in America. Brody asserts that every hour...
Elderly depression is not uncommon, but it doesn't have to be an inevitable part of aging. Fortunately, engaging in exercise can reduce depression significantly, as well as reduce the risk of serious health problems, such as cardiovascular...
As the human body ages, diseases like osteoporosis and arthritis limit mobility. For elderly people with trouble bearing weight and a limited range of motion, exercising on hard surfaces causes pain. Performing exercises while submerged in water...
If you are elderly, getting your daily amount of exercise can be challenging. You need to find exercise routines that will not induce injury but will provide a safe and enjoyable experience. Exercise has many benefits for your overall health....
The American Academy of Family Physicians says seniors should exercise for at least 30 minutes almost every day. The academy further advocates 20 minutes of muscle strengthening exercises twice a week. When creating a muscle-building exercise...
The stereotype of the fitness enthusiast as the young, slender athlete is changing. As more older adults, including the elderly, recognize the importance of physical fitness, a new breed of exercisers is showing up in gyms and community centers....
Up to three-fourths of the older adult population in the United States does not currently exercise at recommended levels. As such, they do not gain the multiple physical, social and mental benefits that exercise could provide them. These range...
A long, happy and healthy life should include regular physical activity. Health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and depression can all be improved with exercise. These problems become more serious as we age and exercise...
Aging affects muscle strength and bone density. Lost leg strength can affect your ability to walk and climb stairs, two activities vital to your daily functioning. Engaging in regular exercises for the legs can help you to maintain your mobility...
Sit and Be Fit is television series created by Mary Ann Wilson, RN, based on her experience as geriatrics and rehabilitation nurse. The exercises featured in the program are designed for people over age 55 and those of any age with limited...
Being confined to a wheelchair does not preclude being physically active. Simple exercises for the elderly in wheelchairs require no special tools or equipment. Exercises can provide opportunities for strengthening, coordinating, balancing,...
Elderly people may develop lower back pain for several reasons. Spinal disc degeneration, bad posture, arthritis or the side effects of living a sedentary lifestyle are a few of the most common. Fortunately, lower back stretches and exercises can...
Your body will respond to exercise at any time during your life, so advanced age is not an excuse for not participating in physical activity. If you are increasing in age, you can still perform exercises to strengthen your heart and your muscles....
Multi-sensory, or kinesthetic awareness, is the ability to perceive where and how your body is oriented at any position. This gives your awareness of where you limbs are positioned without looking at them and the sense of up and down, according to...
Sciatica can make it hard to sit, stand or walk. Symptoms of sciatica include sharp pains running down the back of the leg that starts at the buttocks. The sciatic nerve branches off from the lumbar and sacral spine and runs through the pelvis and...
Physical exercise is beneficial for you even if you are elderly; however, you must exercise carefully so as not to overexert yourself or cause strain or injury. Exercises that can be done while sitting in an armchair have the advantages of safety...
Exercise is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle at any age. A person is more at risk of being bedridden if she is elderly because of the more frequent occurrence of certain diseases that can limit movement. For example, Alzheimer's disease,...
Aging doesn't mean you have to give up an active lifestyle. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, regular physical activity can help keep you healthy well into your golden years by increasing the strength of your muscles, keeping your...
Seated chair squats are a great leg strengthening exercise for the elderly. Learn how to do seated chair squats with tips from a personal trainer in this free senior citizen exercise video.
Senior citizens who want to exercise their hip adductor muscles will need a small inflated ball or a weighted ball. Learn how to do hip adductor exercises for the elderly with tips from a personal trainer in this free senior citizen exercise video.
Leg extension exercises for the elderly are a great workout for the quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles. Learn how to do leg extensions with tips from a personal trainer in this free senior citizen exercise video.