Staying Healthy and Active into Your Golden Years
One of the most common questions seniors under chiropractic care have is: How can I exercise safely?
While the answer to that will vary for each individual, there are quite a few safe and effective exercises most seniors can do.
One common fallacy about seniors needing chiropractic care is that they can’t or shouldn’t exercise. In fact, that’s almost never true — although you do need to be sure to let your chiropractor and primary doctor know before starting any new exercise regimen.
How Regular Exercise Helps Seniors
You probably already know that exercise has wide-ranging benefits for things like cardiovascular health, weight loss, mood and more.
But it can also help seniors with joint and mobility issues stay strong and pain-free.
In fact, many chiropractors recommend regular exercise for the seniors under their care. Even those with arthritis and certain disabilities can benefit from doctor-approved exercise routines.
Benefits of Exercise for Seniors:
- Can increase range of motion and flexibility to ease joint stiffness.
- Increases muscle strength to reduce the risk of injury.
- Can help improve balance, reducing the risk of falls.
- Aids circulation, which may also help prevent blood clots in the legs and arms.
- Known to help reduce inflammation, which can help reduce pain from arthritis, lower back pain, and neck pain.
When used in combination with regular chiropractic treatments, the results of exercise for seniors can be transformative.
Your chiropractor can recommend good exercises for your specific needs or even help you develop a custom-tailored exercise plan.
Good Exercises for Seniors Under Chiropractic Care
Exercise recommendations are never one-size-fits-all, so be sure to seek expert guidance from your medical providers first.
That said, there are many exercises often recommended for seniors under the care of a chiropractor.
Here are some types of exercise your chiropractor may recommend:
- Stretching. This includes things like floor stretching, yoga, Pilates, tai chi and more to increase flexibility and strength. Your chiropractor may also show you specific exercises to increase your range of motion in problem areas.
- Strength Training. Targets weak muscles and helps stave off bone loss as you age. May include weight-bearing exercises, lifting weights, workouts with resistance bands, or body weight workouts that require no special equipment.
- Core Strength. Strengthening your core with targeted exercise can help reduce back pain, increase mobility and balance, and prevent the risk of injury and falls.
- Regular Daily Activities. Things like walking around the neighborhood, gardening, housework and more can help you stay active and feeling your best. Just be sure to avoid things like excessive bending that might exacerbate existing issues or injuries.
- Water Exercise. Exercising in the water reduces strain on joints while providing natural resistance to aid your workout. Water exercise can be anything from regular swimming to water aerobics — they all have a variety of benefits for seniors!
If some of these exercises seem like they may be too hard, don’t be discouraged.
Most experts recommend starting easy and going slow – as little as five minutes a day may be all you need to start.
And don’t be afraid to make accommodations for your age and needs – using a chair for yoga, choosing the lightest weights and more can make exercise safe, effective and completely doable at any age.
Want to Find Out How Chiropractic Can Help You Stay Active and Pain-Free?
Dr. Brian Rush, DC specializes in chiropractic therapies specifically for seniors, and he can help you reap the benefits of a healthy exercise routine.
Rush Chiropractic & Rehab also has an onsite corrective exercise specialist, Brent Morehouse, to help evaluate and teach you exercises for all your senior chiropractic needs.
Call us at 954-432-5006 to set up your consultation today!
Dr. Rush is a 1994 graduate of the University of Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Sports Science and Wellness.
Dr. Rush earned his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree at Life University in 2000 where he was honored with magna cum laude. Dr. Rush was born and raised in South Florida where he returned after graduation. He currently practices in Pembroke Pines where he owns and operates Rush Chiropractic and Rehab.
