Benefits of Life Time Physical Activity
Regular physical activity contributes to helping you feel better, and live longer. By slowly increasing your level of activity, you can improve your quality of life, perform day-to-day activities with comfort, and keep your independence.
For older adults, it’s especially important to focus on activities that strengthen your heart and lungs, promote healthy and strong muscles and bones, and help ensure your joints and muscles are safe and healthy.
If you’re not physically active, have a low fitness level, or have physical limitations, start with a little bit of activity and build up slowly.
- increase the number of days you are active
- increase the length of time you are active
- and increase the intensity of your activity
“Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”– Betty Friedan
Regular physical activity is essential to staying healthy
The benefits of physical activity are undisputed by health professionals. A few of the many positives include:
PHYSICAL MOVEMENT
Helps maintain and increase muscle strength, improving balance, overall co-ordination, reaction time and flexibility. Some physical activities even improve mental concentration.
PRESERVES MUSCLE
Inactive people lose muscle fibre at a rate of 3% to 5% every decade after age 30. This amounts to a loss of 30% of muscle fibre by age 60.
SELF-CONFIDENCE
Improves self-esteem and self-confidence and may even contribute to widening one’s social circle.
IMMUNITY & RECOVERY
Increases resistance to diseases by bolstering the immune system. Also reduces the risk of accidental injury and shortens the recovery period from accident and illness.
REDUCES STRESS
Increases tolerance to stress, improves mood and reduces the risk of depression and anxiety.
HEALTHY HEART
Reduces the incidence of illnesses such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis.
