While some people may picture strength training as a bunch of young, muscular people pumping iron at the local gym, strength training can be so much more and have a great health benefit for your elderly loved one. She doesn’t need to whip out her Olivia Newton-John headband and neon leg warmers to get into a good strength-training routine. She can most likely do it even with what she already has in her home. While a home care provider is not a trainer, your loved one may find support from her home care provider by having someone to talk to as she exercises or even just handing her a bottle of water when she’s done.
Benefits of Strength Training for Seniors
Increasing Bone Density
Regular strength training can increase bone density, reducing the risk of breaks. Strength training not only builds up muscle mass but has been shown to increase bone mass as well. It is a great way to develop a strong musculoskeletal system.
Improving Blood Lipid Levels
If your loved one has high cholesterol issues, it may help her improve her good cholesterol while reducing her bad cholesterol levels. Better cholesterol levels can result in a lower risk for heart disease.
Rebuilding muscle
Even if it’s been decades since your loved one did any strength training, starting a program at any age can help the body rebuild its muscles, which will result in greater strength. Your loved one will find she has greater endurance to do the things she loves when her strength is increased.
Reducing Physical Pain
Strength training can help your loved one build up muscles to support areas of the body that are in constant pain.
Increasing Self Esteem
It feels good to be able to complete something on your own and strength-building may help your elderly loved one have more wins in her world as she completes daily tasks and reaches goals.
Four Strength Training Tips for Success
Any physical program should begin with a doctor’s approval and then trained guidance on how to best start, continue, and maintain a new habit. Once your loved one has the guidance of her doctor, she can begin the first steps of developing a regular strength-training regimen.
Here are four tips that anyone can use at any stage of life.
Enlist support. Having a friend to work out with or a home care provider to help spot you can be a great motivator. It can also help prevent accidents or injury.
Make it part of everyday routine activities. If your loved one lives on the second floor of an apartment, she can take the stairs each day to build up leg strength. She can park farther out in the parking lot to increase steps into the store. All of these little actions throughout the day build up muscle and provide strength.
Make it fun! If your loved one likes community-based groups she might like joining a group in the gym to work out with and build community. Another fun way to build strength is to play with the grandkids by running around the yard or pushing them on a swing.
Set goals. It can be rewarding to have a certain goal and to reach it. Perhaps it’s a certain amount of steps each day to build strength or if she’s lifting weights, increasing repetitions, or weight levels. Find goals that motivate her to keep on track.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Shelby OH, please get in touch with the caring staff at Central Star Home Health today. Call 419-756-9449
Central Star Home Health is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Ohio including Ashland, Bellville, Bucyrus, Crestline, Galion, Lexington, Mansfield, Marion, Mt. Vernon, Ontario, Shelby, and Willard.
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