USA
The rising temperatures and blazing heat of summer are enough to leave anyone with a strong desire to cool off. Water Exercises for Seniors are an excellent opportunity for them to stay fit as well as keep cool on a hot summer day. Swimming is a low-impact exercise, and is therefore highly recommended for the elderly.
Water exercises for seniors provide many health benefits, such as:
1. Swimming increases Strength
- As one ages, muscle loss occurs, and muscle loss can decrease strength
- Seniors can control the resistance of the water because the faster they go, the more resistance builds up
- Senior Health concludes that swimming works most muscles at once, therefore it prevents muscle loss that usually occurs at an older age
- Water provides resistance, which can be beneficial to strength building. LivHome concludes that water exercises are similar to weight training
2. Pool Exercises improve Heart Health
- Swimming improves overall heart health
- Pool exercises decrease risk of heart and lung cancer
- Swimming improves circulation and can lower blood pressure
- According to American Senior Communities pool exercises improve endurance and the cardiovascular system
3. Water aerobics reduce risk for osteoporosis
- One third of women and one fifth of men over 50 fracture bones due to osteoporosis
- Seniors (especially women) are at a greater risk for osteoporosis and activities like swimming can reduce that risk
- According to American Senior Communities swimming can enhance bone marrow density and this can help guard against osteoporosis
- According to LivHome experts found that weight bearing exercise helps with bone strength and since water exercise provides resistance, it can help to reduce osteoporosis
4. Water exercises to improve flexibility
- Swimming involves multiple muscles moving simultaneously
- It increases whole-body flexibility including neck, back, leg and arm flexibility
- Swimming is cxcellent for stretching since each stroke requires a significant amount of reaching
- American Senior Communities found that swimming helps with posture and can also cure back pain
- How Stuff Works concludes that since you need an extensive range of motion to swim, it allows the joints to become loose and flexible which is vital to preventing injuries
5. Swimming improves mental well-being
- It can give seniors an activity to look forward to and one they enjoy doing
- Swimming can also be a way to engage in social interaction and avoid loneliness
- Aquamobile concludes that swimming can decrease stress levels as well as increase the production of endorphins, therefore increasing happiness
6. Water exercises help reduce the risk of falling
- Swimming assists in balance and coordination, and both are essential to avoid falling
- According to LiveScience, research shows that seniors who swim are less likely to fall compared to those who do not
- Aquamobile indicates that swimming is unlike many other sports since you provide your own base and must maintain balance while in the water