One of the simplest and most efficient exercises for elderly folks is walking. It is a terrific way to get active at your own speed regardless of your degree of mobility. The National Institute on Aging suggests that older adults maintain their strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance by frequent walking and walking also gets you outside and helps you socialize. Learn more about the many different benefits of walking for elderly folks.
Health Benefits of Walking for The Elderly
How uplifting and advantageous is walking for older adults? Below is a list of benefits of regular, brisk walking that they stand to gain:
- Enhance Cardiac Health
Walking regularly has been found to enhance circulation, decrease blood pressure, and fend off cardiovascular disease symptoms in numerous studies. In fact, renowned research from the University of Tennessee and the University of Colorado at Boulder found that older women who walk a few kilometers every day have lower blood pressure and a decreased risk of stroke.
- Combat Illnesses
You may naturally enhance your immune system by going for a walk. In a significant study of 1000 adults, it was discovered that those who walked for just 20 minutes a day, five days a week, had 43 percent fewer ill days than those who did not. Walking has also been shown to lower your risk of contracting chronic diseases, such as some cancers.
- Improve Muscle, Bone, and Joint Strength
Even though walking is a low impact activity, it nevertheless works your entire body and is good for your muscles, bones, and joints. You can lubricate your joints by walking because they require frequent movement to remain healthy. Additionally, walking strengthens the bones and muscles that support your body. In fact, studies have shown that frequent walking can greatly lessen (or perhaps avoid) arthritis pain, assist to slow the loss of bone mass caused by osteoporosis, and minimize the risk of hip fractures.
- Supports Healthy Weight
According to a Harvard study involving more than 12,000 people, those who walked briskly for roughly an hour each day were much less likely to be affected by 32 common genes that promote obesity. Similar to how regular exercise may help you control your sweet tooth, reducing your desire for the consumption of unhealthy, sugary treats, is the suggestion of the study.
- Enhance Sleep Habits
If you go for a walk in the morning, it can be simpler to get some shut-eye at night. At least, that is what a research conducted by the Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center discovered. Researchers studied women between the ages of 50 and 75 and found that those who went for morning walks had significantly lower rates of insomnia than those who did not.
- Hinders Cognitive Decline
Older adults who walk regularly will be able to keep their minds sharp as they age. Researchers discovered that older women who walked more frequently had a lower overall rate of age-related mental impairment. The incidence of mental decline decreased as test subjects walked more. In a similar vein, a study that looked at males between the ages of 71 and 93 discovered that those who walked at least a quarter of a mile each day had a 50% lower incidence of Alzheimer’s or dementia than those who did not walk.
