Top Reasons Your Senior Loved One Should Lift Weights

Older adults are always encouraged to participate in aerobic exercise such as walking for heart health. Now, a growing body of research suggests strength training may be even more important. Along with supporting heart health, weight lifting and resistance training can help elderly people fight age-related muscle loss, slow the reduction of bone mass, and even alleviate the pain of arthritis. Here are a few important reasons seniors should start strength training programs designed for older adults.

Reduce Symptoms of Chronic Conditions

Strength training becomes increasingly important with age. Resistance training can reduce the symptoms of many common conditions that affect elderly people, such as back pain, osteoporosis, diabetes, and arthritis.

If you have concerns about your loved one’s ability to exercise safely, consider hiring a trained professional caregiver to provide assistance. Dallas at-home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.

Increase Bone Density & Lower the Risk of Fractures

More than half of all people over the age of 80 experience at least one fall each year. Falls can be very dangerous for older people, especially women, due to decreased bone mass. Postmenopausal women can lose up to 2 percent of their bone mass each year due to hormonal changes, but strength training can boost bone density and lower the risk of fractures.

Enhance Sleep Quality

Research has found people who exercise often have better sleep quality, which means they wake up less often, sleep more deeply, fall asleep faster, and sleep longer. In fact, strength training can produce the same sleep benefits as prescription medication without the potential side effects.

If you usually help your loved one exercise but need a break now and then, hiring a home caregiver to take over on occasion is a great option. Dallas respite care professionals can assist seniors with a wide array of daily tasks, offering family caregivers the chance to focus on other personal responsibilities or take a break to prevent burnout. Whether it’s for a few hours a day or a few days a week, respite care is the perfect solution for family caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed.

Alleviate Depression

Surprisingly, for some seniors, strength training has proven to be as effective as antidepressants when it comes to alleviating symptoms of depression. It’s unclear whether this is because the workouts produce biochemical changes or because they simply cause seniors to feel better as they get stronger physically. 

Relieve Arthritis Symptoms

Many elderly people experience the pain of rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis every day. Strength training alleviates arthritis symptoms in several ways by building muscle to protect the joints and boosting flexibility and strength, which reduces strain on the joints. According to a major study, strength training can decrease arthritis pain by 43 percent while boosting general physical health. 

Assistance with exercising safely is just one of the benefits seniors receive when families enlist the help of trained professional caregivers. Dallas elder care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently. If you need professional care for your loved one, Home Care Assistance is just a phone call away. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at [hca_phone].