Article reposted from Illawarra Mercury November 2022
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/7965995/the-importance-of-exercise-as-we-age/?cs=31056
We are coming out of a very difficult 2 years and life is pretty much back to normal for most of us, including resuming regular exercise.
If you feel that you have lost some of your strength and fitness during the COVID 19 restrictions and lockdown, you are not alone. A recent survey found that almost one third of people believed their general strength had declined during COVID.
Just two-weeks of inactivity can lead to muscle loss, especially for people over the age of 65. This illustrates the saying “use it or lose it” says Lilliana Barone, who is founder of Elossa Fitness a specialised gym for people aged 60 years and over.
“We know that physical inactivity and not using muscles can lead to a decline in function and mobility that can make everyday activities more difficult. But the good news is you can get your muscle strength back with regular exercise that includes a mix of strength, aerobic and balance training”.
The benefits of regular physical activity on health are well known, however as a nation we are not meeting the recommended level of physical activity.
The 2020-2021 National Health Survey found 1 in 2 people aged 65 and over did not meet the Australian exercise guidelines of at least 30minutes of moderate intensity activity on most, preferably all days.
“There are so many benefits to regular exercise” says Lilliana “that it is concerning only half of Australians over the age of 65 are getting enough”.
Evidence tells us that keeping active can reduce our risk of chronic diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes. A study conducted in 2002 showed that participating in regular exercise reduced the incidence of Type 2 diabetes by almost 60 per cent in people at risk.
Exercising also reduces the risk of heart disease, helps to manage high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and helps maintain strong bones, decreasing the risk of osteoporosis. It has also emerged as a key treatment for reducing the risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
The UK Alzheimer’s Society state “Of all the lifestyle changes that have been studied, taking regular physical exercise appears to be one of the best things that you can do to reduce your risk of getting dementia’
Exercise also has a positive impact on mental health including reducing stress, improved self-confidence, improved mood and better sleep quality.
“With all these benefits, why wouldn’t we want to exercise?” says Lilliana. “But many older people struggle to find a gym where they feel comfortable and can safely exercise at the right level for them. That’s why I started Elossa”.
‘Everything we do at Elossa is backed by science. Our circuits are a mix of strength, aerobic and balance training that have been designed by our team of expert exercise physiologists,’ Lilliana said.
‘Part of our standard practice is a comprehensive Exercise Physiology Assessment of all our members before they start training, this includes blood glucose and blood pressure monitoring as needed and a full medical history so our exercise physiologists can personalise your exercise programme
Training with Elossa will help you to continue to do the things you love to do, or go back to doing the things you used to do. Members should see an improvement in their overall health and wellbeing.
Call them on 0452 356 772 or go to elossafitness.com.