Even if you suffer from issues of limited mobility, you can still make the time to be active and healthy. There are a range of steps that you take within your home, including the installation of disability baths, to improve its suitability for your mobility levels and multiple types of exercise which are ideal for keeping fit and helping you to remain mobile and independent for as long as possible.
How Important Is Exercise As I Get Older?
Physical activity, undertaken on a regular basis, can really offer numerous health benefits – as if that wasn’t enough, for most people it can also be a fun and social event and help you to meet other people with a similar problem to yourself.
The NHS says that “physical activity and exercise can help you stay healthy, energetic and independent as you get older”, and this is particularly important as the onset of age, and the mobility issues which are typically associated with it, can really have a negative effect on your life.
Before you start any new exercise regime, it is always best to check with your doctor or other health professional. You don’t want your exercise regime to be too overwhelming and actually have a negative effect on your body, and it is always best to ensure that you are undertaking the best form of exercise for your levels of mobility and particular physical issues.
Water Aerobics And Aquatic Exercise
Light water exercise is usually a great idea for the elderly or the infirm as it is a great, low-stress cardio workout. The Mayo Clinic, an international specialist when it comes to cardio and physical recovery, says that Water Walking is always a great point to start at. It doesn’t place much stress on your bones or any joints which are often subject to many of the physical complaints that people suffer from.
Water-walking is performed in waist-high water and simply requires that you walk from one end of the pool to the other. There is some technique to this, as you need to walk exactly as you would on dry land to enjoy the most benefits. This includes everything from standing straight, keeping your abdominal muscles tight and ensuring that you stand on the flats of your feet, not just the tiptoes.
Many community pools and gyms offer water aerobics classes, including Water Walking, for seniors and others. Many will even be able to provide private classes if you require special help during the exercise.
Improving Your Strength
Ideally, a physical therapist or a personal trainer will be able to help you determine which levels of strength training most effectively fits your needs and physical capabilities. If you have issues standing, then there are many of these exercises which can be performed whilst sitting down. There is such a variety of these kinds of exercises available that you will definitely be able to find one that offers the kind of exercise that will offer you the most benefits.
You mightn’t think that it is really worth working on your strength, but it can really make a range of daily activities easier; from carrying a dish to the table or retrieving something from your wardrobe or a shelf.
Make Sure That Your Home Is Designed For Your Needs
It can be difficult, as you get older; to admit that something in your home which was once ideal is no longer suitable for your needs. However, you should never be uncomfortable or unsafe in your own home, and that is why you need to ensure that your entire property is outfitted to meet your physical capabilities.
Whether that means you need to install a chair lift to access the top floor of your home, or transform your bathroom so that you can take advantage of any one of our range of disability baths, you need to ensure that you are safe in your home and have somewhere to relax after a day of exercise.
For more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team directly on 0800 29 22 110. Alternatively, you can arrange to view our showroom in Henley-on-Thames, and get some first-hand experience with the very best in mobility-conscious bathing solutions.