Staying Exercised at Home: Physical Training for the Elderly
It can be not easy for the older population to go out for exercise. However, many of the common exercises that older adults perform can be done in the comfort of their own home, which can help seniors stay active and healthy without leaving their house. Here are the details.
1. Seated Exercises
Seated exercises are a great place to start for anyone who has limited mobility. All of these exercises can be performed sitting in a chair, and you can also use the flexibility of an office chair to your advantage, including:
-Marching while seated: March the legs up and down while seated to promote blood circulation and muscle strengthening.
-Exercise: Arm raises, to work shoulders or upper arms.
-Leg Extensions: Straighten one leg out and then the other while keeping the foot flexed and engaged to strengthen the thighs.
2. Stretching
It is important to maintain flexibility and prevent falls and stretching is a very important part of fitness because of this. Here are some at-home stretches that are supper easy to do:
-Neck stretches: Tilt the head sideways and look over each shoulder (both ways).
-Shoulder Rolls: Roll your shoulders in a circle both forward and backward.
-Hamstring Stretch: While sitting, keep one leg straight ahead of the you and lean forwards slightly from your hips.
3. Balance Exercises
To decrease risk of falls, it is essential to have good balance. Balance exercises may include:
-Tandem Stance: Stand with one foot directly in front of the other, and if needed, hold onto a chair for support.
-Heel-to-Toe Walk: Walk, in a straight line, putting the heel of one foot in front of the toes of the other foot.
4. Strength Training
Strength training may be performed with lightweight or with bands. Some exercises include:
-Bicep curls: Curl light dumbbells to the shoulder.
-Shoulder Press: Stand with weights held to shoulder level and press overhead.
5. Cardiovascular Exercises
Even from home, it's possible to raise heart rate with easy cardiovascular exercises:
-Chair Step-ups: Use a sturdy chair to step up and down, similar to the motion of climb stairs.
-Marching Sitting Down: March the legs as if you were running in place, while seated.
6. Breathing Exercises
Do breathing exercises to increase lung capacity and reduce stress:
-Deep Breaths Inhale (nose) Maximize. Hold For A Few Seconds And Exhale (mouth)
-Pursed-Lips Breathing: Breathe in through your nose and out through pursed lips.
7. Yoga and Tai Chi
Among a number of disadvantages of yoga and tai chi, there are likewise really few trainees which struggle to suit courses around their work or family responsibilities. Such practices emphasize on slow controlled movements that can help with balance, flexibility and strength.
8. Safety Tips
Use proper equipment and make sure that any weights or resistance bands are appropriate for your level of fitness. If in doubt about your health, seek the guidance of your family doctor before starting a new exercise program.
To sum up, it is not impossible for the elderly to be active at home and it can even be the safe and enjoyable way to stay healthy. With a few different types of exercises targeting all areas of fitness, older adults can get their exercise in and live an active, healthy lifestyle from the comfort of their home.