Tips on 5 Surprising Walking Benefits for Seniors
For seniors looking to add more exercise to their daily routine, walking may be the
perfect solution. Among the many health benefits of walking, a few surprising effects are
especially beneficial to seniors facing age-related health risks. Proven benefits include:
1. Eases Joint Pain – According to the Arthritis Foundation, our joints get their
nutrients from fluid that circulates as we move. The impact of movement
compresses and lubricates the joint cartilage, bringing oxygen and nutrients into
the area. Walking also protects the joints by strengthening the muscles that
support them. Studies show that walking reduces arthritis-related pain and can
prevent arthritis from developing in the first place.
2. Boosts Immune Function – One study of more than 1,000 men and women
found that those who walked at least 20 minutes per day, five days per week,
experienced 43% fewer sick days than those who exercised once a week or less.
Walkers also showed milder symptoms and shorter durations if they did get sick.
3. Benefits the Memory – Walking can help seniors avoid age-related memory
loss, Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia. A University of California
study showed that in 6,000 women age 65 and older, those who walked more
experienced lower age-related memory decline. Another study found that men
between the ages of 71 and 93 who walked more than a quarter of a mile a day
were half as likely to develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, compared to
those who walked less.
4. Lowers Risk for Glaucoma – According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation,
a regular exercise regimen, such as walking three or more times each week, can
successfully reduce pressure in the eye. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP)
damages the optic nerve, but regular exercise can have an IOP-lowering effect.
This benefit only continues, though, as you keep exercising.
5. Controls Weight Gain – Although this particular benefit may not be very
surprising, the specific ways in which walking helps you control weight gain are
quite unique. Harvard researchers studying obesity-promoting genes found that
for people who walked briskly each day, the effects of such genes were cut in
half. Other research found that regular walking helps control weight gain by
curbing cravings for chocolate and other sugary snacks.
Beginning a routine of walking regularly might be difficult for someone not used to
exercising all the time. However, since walking itself is so simple, there are a lot of ways
to make it more exciting and enjoyable:
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Socialize – Form a walking group with your friends and neighbors and use your
walks as a way to stay in touch regularly.
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Challenge Yourself – Set a goal each week for how long you want to walk.
Devices such as pedometers can help you track the miles you travel in steps you
take.
Be Productive – Use your walk to call a friend or family member, listen to an
audio book or help a canine companion get their exercise as well.
Change It Up – Walk a different route each time. Even if you usually circle your
local park, walking in the opposite direction can offer a pleasant change of pace.
Live Vibrantly! at Provident Village at Canton
At Provident Village at Canton, we believe vibrant days ensure bright tomorrows, so
we've created a community where seniors, quite simply, Live Vibrantly! Whether it's in
our Assisted Living Community or Memory Care Neighborhood, each day we celebrate
the individuality and strengths of each resident.
At Provident Village, to Live Vibrantly! means that days are filled with joy, vitality, growth
and security. It means residents are socially active and personally empowered, with
access to the personalized care and support they need to live fully. It means residing in
a community where intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and physical care are
seamlessly integrated into everyday life.
We invite you to visit us and see for yourself!