Exercise, of any type, rejuvenates. Cardio exercise is good for cardiovascular health and helps burn fat. Weight loss exercises target weight loss and helps achieve a leaner body. Strength resistance training is good for muscles and overall health.
Resistance training has been shown to have multiple advantages, including improved mental well-being and healthy aging. This blog delves into resistance training for the elderly and explores the positive connection between resistance training and mental health.
Understanding Resistance Training
Resistance training is the synonym for strength training, which improves strength and endurance. It utilizes free weights, resistance bands, and body-weight exercises that target muscles and help them grow. One might wonder how strength training can help seniors, but it is a known fact that humans lose muscles as they age and face problems walking and even doing the most basic activities of the day. Strength training helps build muscles, which improves their quality of life.Resistance Training and Mental Health
Resistance or strength training and mental health are directly connected because resistance training offers multiple mental health advantages, which are discussed below:Depression and Anxiety
There can be multiple reasons for depression and anxiety in one’s life, but there is one very effective way to deal with these, and that’s exercise. Resistance training has been linked with uplifting moods as it releases endorphins, natural mood lifters. Also, when you lift heavy weights and see yourself progressing towards a better body, the confidence and self-esteem thrashes away depression and anxiety.Cognitive Benefits
As you age, your cognitive abilities slow down, and believe it or not, resistance training helps improve them. Studies suggest that regular strength training enhances memory, executive function, and information processing speed. It is crucial for seniors.Enhancing Sleep Quality
Those who exercise regularly boast of better sleep quality as exercise helps regulate the body’s internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep on time and rejuvenate deep sleep.Resistance Training and Aging
For those wondering how resistance training and aging go hand-in-hand, here are your answers:- Sarcopenia is a natural condition that causes muscles to lose mass with age. Resistance training can help with this, as it helps build muscle mass, improve strength, and enhance bodily function in the senior years.
- Resistance training stimulates bone growth and increases bone density, reducing the risk of fractures and falls. It also helps combat osteoporosis.
- Resistance training helps learn balancing and better coordination of limbs, reducing the risk of falls and injury, which is quite common in older citizens. It can lead to a disaster, and resistance training is a way to avoid that.
Tips for Incorporating Resistance Training
For Mental Health
Here are certain tips to incorporate resistance training in your schedule to improve mental health:- Start Slowly: Beginners always seek fast results, but building muscles take time. You must take it slow, starting with lighter weights and gradually moving to the heavier ones.
- Maintain Consistency: Consistency is the key to achieving results, so one must maintain a schedule and be consistent with the exercises. Aim for at least three sessions a week, and fit in more if you can.
- Set Realistic Goals: One should always have a goal to offer motivation when needed. Breaking it down into smaller objectives will be a great help here.
For Aging
Here are some essential tips for integrating resistance training for the elderly into your routine for graceful aging:- Listen to Your Body: As you commence resistance training, listen to your body and start slowly. Pay attention to how you feel; if your limbs are sore, increase or decrease the intensity accordingly.
- Focus on Movement: Strength building for seniors can be easy by incorporating exercises that mimic daily movements such as squatting, lifting, etc. It will grease the limbs, reduce inflammation, and build muscles in the required areas.
- Safety: Never compromise your safety. Use equipment, such as Caerus Strength Trainer, that ensures your safety and eliminates the risk of injury.
- Incorporate Balance Exercises: Balancing exercises have multiple benefits, such as improving posture, reducing the risk of falls, and improving balance control. Walking on toes, heel raises, single-leg stands, etc., are some of the exercises that you can practice.