Exercise Benefits for Older Adults

By UCLA50Plus • November 8, 2018

Exercise Benefits for Older Adults

Older adults can benefit from regular physical activity. Fortunately, the activity does not need to be strenuous to achieve health benefits. Even a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood or a nearby park can benefit both body and mind.

While activities such as hobbies can contribute to maintaining independent, healthy living, exercise has been shown to improve mental and physical well-being because it can boost brain health, lower blood pressure, slow loss of muscle and bone mass and lower the risks of falls and serious injuries.

Older adults can receive significant health benefits with modest physical activity, no matter their age. Ideally, it should be daily activity. Other benefits of exercise include improved flexibility, reduced insomnia and stress, decreased joint and muscle pain and reduced risk of chronic diseases.

Best of all, it’s never too late to start exercising!

For a partial listing of fitness programs and exercise classes for older adults, please visit our calendar of events.

Tags: Aging, health benefits, insomnia, physical activity, stress, Wellness