Best Exercises for the Elderly

Have you decided to take control of your health and include exercises in your day? That is great! Before you pull out your exercise videos from the 1980s, ask yourself if those are the best moves for you at this stage of life. Seniors benefit from cardio and weight training, but doing too much, or doing age-inappropriate exercises can lead to injury. You can add physical activity without damage when you choose the best fitness practices for your age group. For your day to day activities, get the help of a home care professional, and you have the recipe for much success in making positive changes to your life.

5 Exercises for Total Body Strength

While you can benefit from lifting weights, knowing where to start may be confusing at first. It's important to start slow. Improve your balance, stability, and flexibility by focusing on easing into the exercises and then adding equipment as needed.
As with any exercise routine, be sure you consult your doctor first. Also, remember the importance of warm-up and cool-down exercises, and take a day off between the days you exercise. Finally, choose the right moves to build the strength your body needs. Here are a few to get you started:

1. Chair Squat: We squat every day when sitting or standing and getting in or out of cars. When you practice good form, you will strengthen your hips, glutes, and thighs, making it much easier to transition from sitting to standing and vice versa.
2. Knee Lifts with a Medicine Ball: You can also do this exercise with no ball and only lift your knees. Use this move to enhance your upper body endurance and increase your balance and stability.
3. Side Leg Lifts: You will want to use a chair for additional support, but this exercise will increase the strength in both your legs. First, the standing leg will utilize stabilizer muscles, and the lifting leg builds strength in your hips and glutes.
4. Bicep Curl: Strengthen your bicep muscles, which you use daily to carry items, open doors, and pick things up. It doesn't take much weight. You can use soup cans if you like. After a while, you will notice that you can handle heavier weights to strengthen your arms.
5. Tricep Extension: The tricep manages the opposite motion of your biceps. You use your triceps for pushing movements. You can use a medicine ball for added resistance to increase your strength.

Gain Stronger Muscles and Better Health

Conduct your exercise routine safely when you enlist the services of a professional senior caregiver from Home Instead Ottawa. Our team stands ready to ensure you move properly and maintain good form. If you prefer to go to the community centre or gym for a class, we can provide transportation, as well. We offer many different services tailored to you or your family's needs. Look to us for assistance with seniors returning home from hospital, cooking, light housekeeping, as well as support for people living with dementia and Alzheimer's. We strive to make life a little easier so that you or your loved one can live life to its fullest.

Call us at (613) 599-6906 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver, every day, to families in Ottawa, Kanata, Nepean, Orleans, Rockliffe, Alta Vista, New Edinburgh, Manor Park, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Manotick, Sandy Hill, Hunt Club, Vanier, Richmond, Carleton Place, Gloucester, Kemptville