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Best Cardio Workout Over 50
The benefits that cardio exercises can bring for people over 50 are vast. Cardio exercise helps people over 50 remove toxins from their bodies while promoting general health and vitality. In addition, when these movements are combined with the weight training needed to maintain bone health, it becomes one of the best preventative measures in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
A recent study published by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) shows why cardio exercises are so important for people over 50: When done sporadically, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise has been associated with a decreased risk of mortality after age 65 and improved quality of life. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that doing cardio exercises is beneficial in other ways. For example, regular cardio exercise helps to reduce the risk of developing or dying from heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, and high blood pressure.
While these benefits are certainly incentive enough for anyone to start exercising, it is especially crucial for people over 50 as they age. Thus it is important to understand why and how cardio exercises are so effective at preventing illness. Many people think of aerobics when they hear the word “cardio.” However, there are many types of exercises that fall under the category of “cardio.
What is cardio exercise?
It is best to think of cardio exercise as a category of exercises that includes walking, jogging, swimming, and running. Also, the best source for cardio exercise would be intervals using a treadmill or elliptical machine. These are all forms of aerobic exercise that promote oxygen delivery to the body’s cells. Cardio exercises in general are considered “low-impact” because they do not put stress on bones and joints. When people over 50 do high-impact aerobics such as running, there can be an increase in bone loss as well as injuries to muscles and tendons.
How often should people over 50 do cardio exercises?
In addition to the benefits of cardio exercise, it is also important to start doing it early enough. The CDC recommends that adults over the age of 18 have at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity daily. However, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends starting aerobic exercise later in life at age 55 for women and age 60 for men. This is because women tend to be more prone to osteoporosis after menopause. In addition, older men do not need as much exercise as older women or younger men because their muscle mass has decreased with aging.
Nonetheless, both are important to be consistent with aerobic exercise. In fact, doing it early can greatly reduce the risk of falls and fractures due to bone loss. It is never too late to start doing cardio exercises either; it is always better than nothing. As long as there is an overall increase in activity over one’s lifetime, there will be a reduced risk of mortality and improvement in quality of life for people over 50.
It is also important for people who already have cardiovascular problems to talk with their doctor before starting any form of exercise. In addition, if you have known health issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure it is important that you consult your physician before starting any aerobic exercise program. If you have any of these conditions, it is crucial that you find a physical therapist who understands the risks, and how to provide the necessary modifications as needed.
People over 50 don’t have to join a gym or take fitness classes to work out; they can use their own home equipment, like treadmills. The GSA article suggests that using one’s home equipment may be more convenient for people who already have excess clutter in their home and would rather not pack exercise gear into their car for every trip. This is also a cost effective way for anyone to keep getting fit without spending money on travel fees.
People over 50 should also be aware that they may not have the same energy that they did when they were younger. People over 50 may find that doing a higher level of exercise is more tiring than it would have been in their younger years. As long as people continue to make an effort to make cardio exercises a part of their lifestyle, there will be many benefits for them as well as for the people around them.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be used instead of or contrary to that of a medical professional. Before taking supplements, starting a new diet, or embarking on a new exercise regime please consult a medical or nutritional professional. The owners of “Getting Healthy After 50” are not medical professionals and are simply redistributing information that is freely available on the internet.
The video at the top of this post is from the Brand Fitness Youtube Channel.
