Healthy Tips For a Safe & Active Summer for Seniors

Americans are living longer and a major reason is exercise. However, one of the most debilitating influences in the lives of seniors is a sedentary lifestyle. Any kind of exercise is essential to avoiding broken bones, circulation problems caused by atrophying blood vessels and other health problems associated with aging.

With summer upon us, it is a perfect time for seniors to get outside, develop a walking and stretching program and eat right.

Outdoor work and leisure activities when done at a moderate pace will keep you from a sedentary lifestyle that endangers one’s overall health. Being outside also helps your body absorb vitamin D which keeps your bones healthy.

One of the easiest ways to get active is by walking, which improves elasticity in blood vessels. This makes them less susceptible to formation of aneurysms or rupture.

When you begin a walking or exercise program or if you are just engaging in yard work, gardening or other physical activities this summer, you should follow these key health tips from the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors (ANJC).

1. Lightly warm up before activities.

2. When working in the garden, bend with your knees and not your
back, and use your arms and legs while working. The back, upper legs, shoulders, and wrists are all major muscle groups affected when using your green thumb.

3. A warm-up and cool-down period is as important in
gardening as it is for strenuous sporting activity. Performing simple stretches
during these periods will help alleviate injuries, pain and stiffness.

4. Always incorporate breaks while you do your task. To avoid
injuries, stop the activity when fatigue starts to set-in.

5. Avoid dehydration with proper hydration, drinking at least eight
cups a water a day. Be mindful that fatigue, muscle cramps, light headedness
are signs of mild heat illness. Wear loose light colored clothing and avoid strenuous outdoor activity between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. when the temperature is greater than 82 degrees and there is high humidity, to avoid heat illness.

ANJC is one of the largest associations of chiropractors in the nation,
with over 1900+ members, statewide. For more information or to locate an ANJC
member doctor by town or zip code, please visit ANJC’s public information
website at www.njchiropractors.com or call (908) 722–5678.