A Well-Rounded Baby Boomer Exercise Routine
- Always get cleared to begin the different exercises by your doctor.
- Progress and don’t be afraid to try new exercises and activities.
- Try to exercise 3-4 times per week at a minimum.
- Never push yourself to exhaustion. There is always tomorrow. Watch what you eat & enjoy your life!
Take the advice of a Physical Therapist if you injure yourself or you need guidance towards a proper exercise routine.
Most Doctors found that boomers were more likely to be obese, more likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, and less likely to be physically active.
“Our lifestyle habits are not easy as we think,”
Let’s start with the good news. Boomers, who have a longer life expectancy. They were those people who avoided smoking.
But the doctors found measurable evidence of fitness declines.
Boomers were more likely to use devices to assist them with walking & working, for example, or to have physical problems that limited their work.
Strength Training
Strength training is a must. Our bodies begin to lose muscle mass when we enter this stage of our lives. Some studies suggest that a person can lose up to ½ Kg of muscle mass per year once they turn 50. The muscle structure of people those are not physically active or have not participated in a strength-building program is most likely deconditioned and much weaker than it could be with a little effort.
Strength training exercises should focus on your whole body. Resistance training can be completed in many ways. Lifting weights, pulling on resistance bands, using machines or your body weight, and various “fad” type exercise routines can be used to develop the strength properly.
The routine should focus on the whole body and special attention should be given to the doctor’s advice. The core musculature is the foundation of the entire body. The ability of the core to control the spine and pelvis makes movement in the peripheral joints much more effective.
Dr. King said “My generation has lived our adult lives living in an era in which the day-to-day demand for physical activity has steadily declined,”
People entering their 50s or 60s often choose a regular fitness regimen as a way of improving health conditions and maintaining a high quality of life. Exercise has been proven to be the single most important part of someone’s routine to help prevent heart disease and increase the length of life. Both men and women can take benefit from regular training, but some studies have shown that women benefit more than men from regular exercise. The guidance of a Physical Therapist can play a vital role in developing a Baby Boomers exercise regimen.
Creating a Well-Rounded Boomers’ Exercises Regimen
Here are some initial suggestions for creating a balanced routine for a healthy life.
- The cardiovascular system
- Flexibility
- Healthy Food
- Proper Nutrition
- Daily Exercises
- Muscular strength and endurance
- Balance or neuromuscular control
For those people who are just starting an exercise routine, it is important to begin slowly and progress steadily. Exercising 2 – 3 times per week should be the minimum. There is no reason to avoid some kind of exercise every day.
