With average life expectancy on the rise and more seniors interested in physical fitness, there’s a demand for sports for older adults. Even if you haven’t picked up a tennis racket or laced up a pair of jogging shoes in decades, there are a host of interesting options to improve your fitness level. Following is a selection of activities that people can quite easily participate in as they age.
Why exercise is so important as you age
There are some excellent reasons to stay physically active well into our golden years, not the least of which are the physical health benefits. From a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer to preventing age-related bone and muscle loss, maintaining a fitness regime helps to ward off illness and injury.
In addition, moving one’s body can help to improve mood and cognitive function. In short, physical fitness is good for a person’s mental health. Loneliness has been a well documented risk factor for older adults, so staying active and engaged with others recreationally is an effective way to combat this.
A boon in sports for seniors
Maybe you’ve heard about how pickleball has taken off with older adults, or your local senior center is offering an expanded list of fitness classes. Whether the activities are geared towards building flexibility, strength, and stamina, reaching an optimal weight, or simply reducing the likelihood of falls, there are more and more opportunities for older people.
Classes and sports are typically led by instructors and coaches who have the knowledge of what older bodies require and the ability to guide and encourage participants. As the population ages, there has been a notable interest among older adults in staying fit, and this has caused tremendous growth in sports and other physical pursuits for seniors. Let’s review five of them.
- Bowling—Bowling or lawn bowling has long been a much-loved pastime for retirees. It requires only moderate physical activity with pitching the ball and a little walking. This sport is good for keeping the muscles strong in your arms and legs. Older people will find that bowling can help them to develop better balance and coordination. Recognizing the value of this activity, there are lawn blowing clubs and blowing alleys with lighter-weight balls and ramps to increase accessibility for individuals with reduced mobility. Plus, blowing is a team sport that builds camaraderie through friendly competition.
- Cycling—If you’re searching for a low-impact way to get a good cardio workout while protecting your joints, cycling is a great choice. This activity can be adapted to virtually any fitness level. That means you can start off slowly without any fear of injury, increasing your heart health, building up your leg muscles, and boosting your overall endurance. The flexibility of this sport lends itself to both outside and inside practice. You can ride a stationary bike at the gym or opt to cycle around your neighborhood on a two-wheeler or mix it up throughout the week with both to get a safe and effective workout.
- Golf—Many older adults play golf, with some having participated in the game their whole lives. The chance to get outdoors and enjoy nature, as well as the company of your golfing buddies while exercising your joints and muscles, is the attraction. Would you believe that this activity has been shown to help prevent 40 chronic health conditions, including dementia? Golf is a low-impact sport that can accommodate the physical limitations of people regardless of their age and stamina. The use of motorized golf carts, as well as wheeled bag trolleys and caddies to carry your clubs makes this easy to enjoy.
- Pickleball—Seniors who are fans of racquet sports may be interested in trying pickleball. This activity, which combines elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis, continues to grow in popularity, particularly among the older set. Since it’s a sport played in teams, it offers an opportunity for socializing and fun and friendly competition. One of the great aspects of pickleball is that the intensity of play is up to the participants, as it can be slow- or fast-paced. For older individuals, this flexibility allows them to gradually improve their balance, hand-eye coordination, cognition, and reflexes, all challenges that come with aging.
- Swimming—One advantage of swimming is that it’s gentle on your joints while helping you to build strength and stamina. The support of the water reduces the possibility of injury. Swimming engages many muscle groups, increasing flexibility and promoting cardiovascular health. This is another exercise where the pace can be adjusted to meet your body’s requirements. It is an excellent choice for people with arthritis and other joint problems. Using slow, gentle strokes, treading water, doing laps, and joining a water aerobics class are all beneficial ways to pursue this activity.
In closing
Getting older certainly doesn’t mean giving up sports. Bowling, cycling, golf, pickleball and swimming are all activities that can support healthy aging.