Staying Safe during Exercise and Physical Activity
There’s a way for almost every older adult to exercise safely and get meaningful benefits. To play it safe and reduce your risk of injury:
* Begin your exercise program slowly with low-intensity exercises.
* Wear appropriate shoes for your activity.
* Warm up before exercising, and cool down afterwards.
* Pay attention to your surroundings when exercising outdoors.
* Drink water before, during, and after your workout session, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
* Dress appropriately for the temperature outdoors, or opt for an indoor activity if it’s very hot or cold.
* If you have specific health conditions, discuss your exercise and physical activity plan with your health care provider.
- Endurance. Listen to your body. Your breathing may become faster, but you should still be able to talk.
- Strength. You will need a chair to do many of the strength exercises on the Go4Life website. Be sure to choose one that is sturdy.
- Balance. Have that sturdy chair handy or a person nearby to hold on to for your balance exercises if you feel unsteady.
- Flexibility. Always warm up before stretching exercises—a few minutes of walking works well.
https://go4life.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/StayingSafe.pdf