One of the most generously offered pieces of advice from older generations is “don’t get old”. It’s easy to say but impossible to carry out. The aging process in inevitable for every human on earth, but it doesn’t have to be all bad. Aside from chronic disease, for most individuals the worst part of aging is the presence of aches and pains in joints and muscles. For most of us, these aches and pains can be prevented before they begin – or treated as they start.
Maintaining strength, balance, and mobility as you age is the foundation of a youthful lifestyle. As you age, any sort of activity is better than a sedentary lifestyle – but resistance training through weight bearing exercise is the absolute best way to get the most out of your workout. Resistance training boasts many benefits, including better bone density, improved balance, and increased muscle strength. All of the benefits you obtain from a few simple resistance workouts provide exactly what you need to maintain a highly independent lifestyle.
How does exercise help bone density?
It’s no secret that bone density becomes weaker over time. Especially in women, bone loss can be detrimental to overall mobility and strength. Weight bearing exercise works to increase bone density in a variety of ways that can ultimately lead to a higher quality of life. Body weight and gravity naturally put stress on your bones which makes them stronger to provide better support. Weight bearing and resistance exercise also enables bones to be pulled by your muscles. The force require to move free weights actually stimulates bones to become stronger to support the pulling muscles.
For aging individuals, regular resistance exercise is one of the most effective ways to slow the aging process. Try working at home with exercise bands, which are easily adjustable for any body type and strength. For more convenient exercise during your daily activities, add weight to your arms or ankles with these easy exercise weights that attach right to your body.
