Retired people should try to be more physically active than ever, since a regular physical activity routine can improve their health and enhance their quality of life. Physical activity for older adults:

• Provides an enjoyable pastime.
• Helps to maintain independence.
• Prevents disease.
• Helps to manage the symptoms of an existing disease and slow down the progression.
• Supports a faster recovery from surgery or a fall.

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Enjoying Your Later Years
We no longer believe that retirement means just sitting back and taking it easy. Too much time in the easy chair, and you won’t be able to get out of it!

Being moderately active for as little as 30 to 60 minutes a day will increase the quality and quantity of your life. Considering that there are 1,440 minutes in every day, that’s a pretty good deal.

Regular physical activity will allow you to keep doing the things you enjoy, or better yet, to try something new. When you play with the grandkids, you’ll be able to keep up with them. You’ll be able to travel, volunteer, dance, canoe, hike, play baseball or coach a team. Age doesn’t have to stop you from having fun.

Managing and Preventing Disease
According to the World Health Organization, sedentary living (that is, being a couch potato) is the greatest health risk for older adults. Now is the time to get moving, even if you never have before.

Regular physical activity can slow down or even reverse the progression of a chronic disease. And it’s one of the best ways to manage the symptoms of a disease. For example, arthritis sufferers can find pain relief in gentle movement of the joints. As the fitness experts say, “Motion is the lotion for your joints!” Keeping your muscles strong also helps to make the joints stronger and healthier.

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Investing in Your Health
The time and money required to support a regular physical activity program can give you great returns. How much is it worth to maintain your health and independence? Where would you prefer to spend your time and money? On enjoying life? Or on being sick?

Remember, your body cannot “store” fitness. Activity has to be a regular part of your daily or weekly routine.

Physical activity is just as important in your older years as it was when you were young. But it is never too late to start, and you will benefit at any age.

Physical activity will help you enjoy life and manage disease. It is one of the smartest investments you could ever make, and you don’t have to wait 20 years to start cashing in. You will start to see benefits within weeks!

Keen to get started? Canada’s Physical Activity Guide for Older Adults is a good resource to get you going.

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Learn More:
Alberta Senior Citizens Sport and Recreation Association
Are you interested in trying a new sport? Or looking for people to play sports with? The ASCSRA website tells you what is happening in your area and points you to resources, workshops and contacts.

Canada’s Physical Activity Guide for Older Adults
Basic information on the benefits of physical activity and tips on how to get started.

In Motion: Fit Facts for Older Adults
In 1999, approximately $2.1 billion of the total direct costs to Canada’s health-care system were attributable to physical inactivity! Find this and other interesting facts on this site.

Power of Strength Training for Older Adults
This article on the Active Living Coalition for Older Adults website includes information about how our muscles change as we age, the impact of a sedentary lifestyle, what to do and how often, and how hard you should be working.