Let’s face it, you’re not in your 20s anymore. No matter how young you feel, you need to exercise differently as you age.
As Fox News explains, exercise is important if you want to live a long and healthy life. It helps to preserve muscle mass, bone density and joint health as we age. But, the article points out, you might need to change the way you work out to ensure safe, optimal results.
Fitness experts say these are the most common mistakes older adults make when it comes to exercise and how to avoid them.
Mistake No. 1: Training only what you see in the mirror. Ignoring your back, glutes, hamstrings and core creates poor posture, weak links and, eventually, pain.
Mistake No. 2: Training like you’re still 25. Exercising with the same intensity and volume as when you were younger often leads to overuse injuries and burnout.
Mistake 3: Relying only on cardio. Skipping strength training accelerates muscle and bone loss, which are critical for staying active and independent. Building muscle helps protect the joints, speeds up metabolism and ensures strength for life. Fitness experts say to include two to three days a week of strength and resistance-specific work.
Mistake 4: Moving too fast or lifting too heavy. This can lead to injury. Controlled reps will keep you safe and build strength you can use.
Mistake 5: Skipping warmups and forgoing recovery. These are necessary for a safe and successful workout because they reduce the risk of injury and provide optimum results.
Mistake 6: Neglecting mobility and stability. Experts say these decline naturally with age and are major factors in injury risk, so try to dedicate 10 to 15 minutes of every workout to joint mobility, core stability and balance exercises.
Just remember, as you age it’s not about doing more, it’s about doing it right when it comes to exercise.
For more tips on maintaining an active lifestyle during retirement, check out 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.
