Exercising When You're Older

Exercise and Age

No matter how well you take care of yourself, it's not realistic to think your body can do at 65 what it did at 45 or even 55. That doesn't mean you should reduce physical activities. It does mean you will need to modify your expectations.

How your body changes - As you age, the maximum pumping capacity of your heart declines, resulting in less oxygen to exercising muscles and a decrease in your cardiovascular fitness. Your muscles lose some strength and mass and become less flexible, as do your tendons and joints. It takes longer to recover from a muscle strain, sprain, trauma or injury.

The March 2005 issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource says that by staying physically active, you can help minimize nearly all of these effects of aging. But the physical activities you choose as you age will likely change.

This isn't to say you should reduce your physical activity. It means modifying your activities to accommodate change. For example, if you have been a jogger most of your life, you may need to switch to walking to protect your joints. Or if you were a high-intensity aerobics buff, you may need to try low-intensity aerobics, yoga, tai chi or Pilates. The important goal is to remain fit.

Fit at any age - If you have had to slow down the treadmill a bit or make other activity changes, how do you know if you are fit? Make an honest assessment of your own physical abilities. Can you perform daily tasks without fatigue? Can you perform moderately intense activities and talk at the same time? These are both signs of being fit. And no matter what your age or where you are on the fitness scale, you can always improve your personal fitness level.