By now, you’re probably all too familiar with all the health benefits of exercise, especially as you age. But an article by Fit and Well notes that being a “highly active senior does have drawbacks, such as persistent aches and pains, chronic injuries, and repetitive strain.”
The cause is often repetitive stress without proper recovery. For instance, someone who plays a lot of pickleball is only “working the muscles and running through the movement patterns needed for that particular sport.” That can result in joint pain and stiffness as well as overuse injuries like chronic tendinopathies.
Fortunately, there are two things you can do to help prevent injury and reduce aches and pains:
Diversify your movement – Mixing up training rather than doing the same exercise over and over supports tissue resilience and adaptability. Experts say a “healthy and comprehensive exercise program should always include cardiovascular conditioning, strength and balance training, and tissue restoration.”
Prioritize sleep – You shouldn’t underestimate the healing power of sleep. The article points out that “sleep plays a critical role in immune function, tissue healing, pain management, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, learning, and memory.”
To learn more about exercise and fitness, check out some of our other articles on Council of Seniors 365.
And be sure to stop by CouncilofSeniors.com to learn how we’re working to improve the financial well-being of America’s retirees.
