Movement While Aging

 "If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading."
– Lao Tzu

It is been said that staying fit and maintaining a healthy weight is important for successful aging. It has also been said that there’s a lot of functional limitations associated with aging, especially with people in their 50s and 60s. One such study found that individuals 50-59, who suffer from conditions like arthritis, had difficulty climbing stairs and walking several blocks. This would suggest that if you’re in this age group and are experiencing pain and having difficulty with physical, functional limitations that there are still options. Perhaps, if you still have an exercise routine you might have to modify or adjust that instead of stopping altogether.

We know that sitting is detrimental to your health regardless of age. For instance, your body becomes stiff and uncomfortable with too much non-movement. Being sedentary also results in muscle fiber connected tissues contracting as the fibers become stiffer and less flexible. When this happens, the body produces less and less of its natural lubricating substances. When tissues ,muscles become dry ,short and flexible they are more likely to tear since the inactivity  lowers the blood supply to the bones and with lower blood supply the bone become brittle more fragile.

Perhaps, more walking and or being in a pool might be a better alternative. A few years ago I was in Kansas City performing a book signing for “It Has Nothing to Do with Age”. Ed Budde, who played for the Kansas City Chiefs for 14 years joined me in the signings. Ed   suffered numerous injuries associated with playing in the NFL. He was, for example, having difficulty with locomotion and I suggested that he find a pool in which to do aerobic exercise.

Just recently I was at Michigan, doing book signings for Bo’s Warriors with the men that I profiled. I must say, that I don’t have any difficulty, suggesting various forms of exercise for these former players either. I hope that I am a good model, and they know that I walk the walk.

I know it’s easy to give advice to others. And, I hate to use scare tactics of what happens to our body without exercise. However, the alternative is scary, dreadful and it also lowers life expectancy from chronic disease, etc. For me, I pride myself in being physically fit as that is my goal. Yesterday, Tony joined me as we hit the trail and it was good.

In ending, keep moving, laughing, smiling, loving, bonding and appreciating. Sources include: the Wall Street Journal April 9, 2012 and the British Medical Journal.