Glenbrooke News

As the fastest-growing segment of the country's population, older adults should be a focus to the fitness industry. With increased changes in chronic disease, decreases in functional activities, a sedentary lifestyle and other overwhelming numbers of issues, the older adult should be a focus for us as personal trainers.

Years ago the understanding of helping those over 50 years of age was to relax and do nothing, so as to avoid injury. Well, that understanding has changed dramatically. Now we have physicians encouraging their patients who are in their "golden years" to exercise - not just for cardiovascular health but also for strength through resistance training.

Seeing older people go from being able to lift their grandchildren and have an active life to not being able to get out of their chair at the dinner table or even being able to use the restroom without some type of assistance has become a great concern.

Studies have shown that resistance training in older adults is not merely beneficial - it's a must. One case studied people in an assisted living facility who were confined to a wheelchair, not because of clinical issues but because of sedentary issues. Within three months after starting an exercise program, they were functioning without the wheelchair.

The case study continued for six months with the exercise program and those individuals functioned well. Resistance training was taken away, and 80 percent of the subjects returned to their wheelchairs within a two-month period. This study was published in the Journal of American Medical Association in the early 1990s.

Functional daily movements (getting in and out of a chair, changing clothes, cooking and doing laundry) have improved in individuals who have incorporated resistance training into their exercise routine.

Along with that comes increased strength, coordination, balance, confidence, physical independence and the decreased likelihood of getting a chronic disease.

With age, we gain fat and lose muscle, bone and aerobic capacity. So the focus should be on exercise and strength/resistance training.

It is common to spend so much time and energy planning for retirement - having enough money to pay the bills and enjoy living, traveling, having a hobby, spending time with family - that many lose sight of the most important part of their "golden years": their health.

Resistance training is important for all of us, especially older adults. It's a must to ensure a more positive, healthy, beneficial lifestyle in our "golden years."

Ed White has worked in the fitness industry for over 22 years and is a certified personal trainer. He has complemented his love of personal training with 12 years' experience in spine care in physical therapy and three years as administrator for a medical clinic. He has a record of success in teaching people how to care for their body through exercise and proper nutrition.

Reprinted, with permission from   www.ANewCafe.com