As people age, mobility can become more of a problem, especially if they suffer from arthritis or other physical conditions.
However, a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that individuals in their 70s and 80s who participated in moderately intense exercise programs for several years were more likely to retain their ability to stay mobile and move around independently.
Reuters noted that these findings add to previous evidence that engaging in regular exercise throughout life as well as active senior living work to help older adults move better as they age.
Researchers included 1,635 men and women from around the country in 2010 and 2011, and in the beginning, all of the participants were between 70 and 89 years old and able to walk a quarter mile without help.
Half the group was randomly assigned to take part in a structured fitness program while the others participated in a health education group. The exercise faction did strength, balance and flexibility training three to four times a week at home and visited a medical center twice a week, while the other half went to weekly meetings about healthy aging during the first 26 weeks, then monthly meetings after that.
All individual’s ability to walk a quarter mile successfully was tested every six months, and after two-and-a-half years, 70 percent of the exercise group and 64 percent of the education group still could, demonstrating that age doesn’t necessarily have to keep you from getting out and walking!
There are a variety of senior friendly exercise formats that older adults can take part in to stay in shape and help themselves stay mobile for longer throughout their life.
