Can we Benefit from Exercise in Our 70’s, 80’s, and Beyond?
Stay active at any age and unlock the power of movement to boost health. Hear expert tips from our guest blogger, personal trainer Ben Broadhead.
Is it really possible to make meaningful improvements to our physical health and fitness during later life?
This is a question I was asked during a recent interview on a local radio station. I was happy with my answer at the time, but it caused me to ponder for a while afterwards. I decided to address the question in a longer format by writing this article. I hope you find it interesting and beneficial. As someone who works in the industry, the answer is “yes” without hesitation. But it was the question itself that really made me think. The fact that people have such limiting beliefs around their capacity to make positive change after a certain age. Many of us mentally throw in the towel and succumb to aging. We can observe this thought process in people of all age groups. For example, 29-year-olds often dread turning 30 as if everything was suddenly going to go downhill. As life expectancy continues to increase, we need to stop stigmatising age.
Pursuing fitness as an older adult is still somewhat unconventional. When promoting my work, it’s often immediately dismissed with a throwaway comment like “I’m too old for that” or “It’s far too late for me to get fit.” I suppose what these remarks imply is that our ageing process is predetermined and therefore out of our control. I always find this narrative difficult to hear. Not only because it inhibits us from attaining a greater quality of life, but also because I know firsthand that it’s not true.
While there are degenerative processes associated with age, all of them can be offset or reversed with the application of a sound exercise program, proper nutrition, etc. This is particularly true if you are starting from scratch. That’s why I often say that novices have the most to gain. The hallmark of any living organism is its ability to adapt to outside stimuli. We are no exception. And so if we do bicep curls every day for a month, our body will respond by developing stronger biceps whether we are 25 or 95.
I have the good fortune in my career to witness people of varying ages create incredible improvements in their health and fitness. The most fulfilling part of my job is having clients report back to me that they can now stand up from their chair unassisted or that it’s easier for them to ascend the stairs. I’ve even had clients who were previously chairbound learn to walk again. These experiences never fail to surprise me because they contradict everything that society tells us about ageing.
This is why my message is one of hope, and my intention is to communicate it to as many people as possible. The message in summary is that it’s never too late to start and anyone can benefit from fitness regardless of their age or any other factor they may perceive to be a limitation.
About the Author
My name is Ben Broadhead, personal trainer and author of 50 Exercises for Older Adults, leads seated exercise sessions across the South-East and offers online training to keep seniors active.
For more articles, information and access to free events and classes, simply visit my website or join my newsletter here
