Wellness Center Focus – Delay Physical Immobility

It’s inevitable that our bodies are going to slow us down at some point. But why not do what you can now to put that off for as long as possible? Jane Brody shares the advice of Mark Lachs, director of geriatrics at the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System, in a recent New York Times article: “If you begin a daily walking program at age 45, you could delay immobility to 90 and beyond. If you become a couch potato at 45 and remain so, immobility can encroach as early as 60.”

Even if you are well into your retirement, it’s not too late to get started. Many studies have confirmed the positive impact of strength training exercises on seniors’ balance and ability to accomplish day-to-day activities.

Two important pieces of advice include:

1. Staying physically active and exercising regularly can help prevent or delay many diseases and disabilities, including dementia.
2. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that even moderate exercise and physical activity can improve the health of seniors who are frail, or who have diseases that accompany aging.

For more information on staying healthy or any of our disease management programs, contact the Wellness Center at (504) 849-6868.