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Doctors
will tell you aging is not an excuse to stop getting fit.
Dr. Patrick Healy, Co-Medical Director of
St. Vincent Hospital's Institute on Aging, says that as
seniors we need to stay on top of our health to fight off
disease. "There's so much information out there about
what you can do to postpone some of these diseases that
formerly you thought were normal aging."
The truth is, we're living longer, so doctors
say we need to live better.
- People born in 1900 had a 50% chance of living to 47
and today, we have a 50/50 chance of living to 77. You
can live that being active and fit and healthy or you
can live it being sedentary, disease-ridden and hurting.
- Moderate daily physical activity can reduce substantially
the risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease,
type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, such as colon cancer.
Daily physical activity helps to lower blood pressure
and cholesterol, helps prevent or retard osteoporosis,
and helps reduce obesity, symptoms of anxiety and depression,
and symptoms of arthritis.
- Osteoporosis is a serious medical condition in which
bones become dangerously thin, brittle and susceptible
to fracture. More than 28 million Americans suffer from
bone loss -- one out of every three women over the age
of 40. Bone loss begins as early as age 35 and then accelerates
after menopause.
The good news is that osteoporosis is a preventable and
treatable disease. Research has found that exercise can
have positive effects on bone density. Just as a muscle
gets stronger and bigger the more you use it, a bone becomes
stronger and denser when you place demands on it.
- Two types of exercises are important for building and
maintaining bone mass and density: weight-bearing and
resistance exercises. We also recommend stretching and
balance work to improve flexibility and coordination.
This page can help you find the interesting links about
fitness, sport and exercises for seniors, articles and other
services focused on senior's fitness and active lifestyle.
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Activekarma.com - Features articles and tools
for those over 40.
- Advice
for the Aging Athlete - Informative article,
authored by William G. Raasch, MD, Director of the Division
of Sports Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert
Hospital.
- AgeFit
- Senior fitness services for the older adult community.
- Alexander
Technique and Aging Well - How this century-old
method of stress reduction can help seniors.
- American
Senior Fitness Association - Provides senior
specific fitness training, certification and resources
for exercise professionals who serve older adults as well
as fitness information and tips for mature exercisers.
- Encyclopedia
of Sports Medicine and Science: Aging and Exercise
- A comprehensive and somewhat technical article on the
physiological changes associated with human aging and
the positive role that exercise can play.
- Execise
is the ELIXIR of LIFE - Fitness for seniors.
- Fit Senior
Online Catalog - Fitness, sports, gymnastic,
aerobic equipment, as well as cycles, treadmills and related
products and prices.
- Fitness
Past Fifty - Provides information to help
mature adults stay fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Michigan
Senior Olympics - Information about this
program which promotes healthy lifestyles by organizing
state games, sports competitions, fitness, and wellness
programs for individuals over 50.
- National
Institute on Aging Page: Don't Take It Easy Exercise
- An authoritative site from the National Institute on
Aging describing the benefits and guidelines for exercise
for seniors.
- New
Mexico Senior Olympics - Information on their
annual state games and events held throughout the year.
Includes a quarterly newsletter, results, events, records
and senior profiles.
- Older
Women And Fitness - Brief summary of research
conducted by an undisclosed source on the importance of
exercise for the older woman.
- Over 50 Magazine
- Middle Tennessee Edition of a bi-monthly publication.
- Senior
Health, from About.com - Links, articles,
and information on senior health and fitness.
- Senior-Fitness.com
- Offers information on stretching and exercises to maintain
balance and prevent falls among seniors.
- Silver
Sneakers - Fitness programs for seniors working
in conjunction with health plans.
- Sport,
Exercise & Fitness -information on sports,
exercise, and fitness that may be of interest to senior
citizens.
- T'ai
Chi
- Kung Fu Alliance - Providing professional,
certified instruction in Yang Style T'ai Chi and Northern
Shaolin Kung Fu. Specializing in the Beginner Senior T'ai
Chi Student.
- Walk
Tall - Exercise program for prevention and
treatment of osteoporosis.
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