Is Exercise Good at Older Ages?

QUESTION: My wife and I are well into our sixties. We're in relatively good
health and tend to take life easy nowadays, but I sometimes wonder if we're
taking it too easy. Do you think exercise can do us any good?
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ANSWER: Exercise can do you a world of good! At any age, unexercised muscles
lose strength and flexibility; in the elderly this often leads to immobility
and isolation from the world at large. A moderate exercise program, designed
by your doctor or a specialist, can postpone or reverse a variety of
conditions associated with aging. Exercise can provide the energy and
satisfaction to fully enjoy your golden years.
The benefits of an exercise program include a reduced heart rate and
lowered blood pressure; increased bone growth to counteract osteoporosis, the
weakened and brittle bone condition so common to the aging; improved success
in dieting; as well as an increase in muscle mass accompanied by a loss of
excess body fat. Taking part in group exercise also provides you with
increased opportunities to socialize with friends and peers. These changes
can add up to an improved appearance, enhanced self-image, and an all-around
sense of accomplishment and pride that will make everything you do more
satisfying.
Before you rush out to sign up for the next triathalon, ask your doctor
for a complete physical checkup, and to help set up an exercise program
designed specifically for you. After checking your heart and respiration
rates and muscle function (both before and after moderate exertion), your
physician or an appropriate specialist will be able to design a regimen of
activities that will exercise your system without taxing it. Such a program
will help your heart reach between 60 and 90 percent of its maximum healthy
functioning rate, and will probably require an hour of your time 2-3 days a
week.
Warm-up and cool-down periods help insure that you will get the full
benefit of working out without the shock to your system of suddenly "switching
gears." Aerobic exercise in the form of walking or swimming is particularly
recommended, but you may also want to consider bicycling, fishing, billiards,
ping-pong, or an easy calisthenics program. Unless you have a specific
go-ahead from your doctor, avoid jogging, skiing, weight-lifting, or other
sports that can subject your body to unnecessary strain and impact. Whatever
you do, choose a program that you will enjoy and look forward to; it will be
a lot easier to stick with, making your goal of improved health and longevity
a pleasure to achieve.