US Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Older Adults recommendations:
- Older adults should participate in 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity aerobic exercise.
- When chronic conditions limit your ability to participate in 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise weekly, remain as physically active as your condition will allow.
- Older adults should participate in strength training activities 2 days/week (keep in mind exercise effort level is specific to preexisting level of fitness).
- Senior fitness programs should incorporate safe balance training activities.
- Age related fitness decline can be both preventable and reversible.
- Maintaining optimal health and physical fitness via regular exercise participation can limit functional decline leading to disability.
*Unfortunately, nearly eighty percent of adult Americans do not complete recommended guidelines regarding regular physical activity participation.
If you are currently an active exercise participant, a Senior Fitness Screening is a great way to track the effectiveness of your current exercise program.
If you are currently inactive, a thorough Senior Fitness Screening detects any age-related declining muscle mass/strength or declining aerobic capacity deficit presentations. It will also help identify and flexibility or balance impairments that might predispose you to injury or fall risk.
Clinical Pearl: Annual assessment of your overall fitness level is a proactive method to maximize your independence and target any underlying physical impairments detrimental to healthy aging.
