Unfortunately, osteoporosis is quite common amongst the elderly. It affects mainly women, but men can easily suffer from this disease, too. Luckily, it is possible to reduce the ill effects that this disease brings with it. A diet with plenty of calcium can help build up bone strength, but one of the most overlooked methods of combating osteoporosis is through exercise. When you live in an assisted living facility, getting regular exercise becomes much easier and more consistent.
Osteoporosis is a disease that makes your bones weaker by increasing their porous nature. Calcium has long been known to strengthen bones, but exercise is another very important part of the battle. This might not seem logical at first—how can exercise strengthen your bones when you use muscles to move around? The fact lies within biology. Our muscles don’t just float freely within our bodies. They are anchored to our bones by a tough connective tissue called tendons. When you strengthen your muscles, the tendons translate that newfound power to your bones.
Resistance exercises work the best for strengthening bones. The most obvious example of this type of activity is lifting weights, but you certainly do not need to become a bodybuilder in order to reap the benefits here. There are many simple lifts you can do that will give you the maximum benefits—this becomes especially easy if your assisted living facility has a workout center. Planned activity nights can also double as a way to get your exercise in. Substitute weights with cans of vegetables held in your hands and you have a simple way to get some resistance training in.
Exercise in San Diego assisted living is pretty easy. When you are part of a group, exercise becomes much more realistic and more fun. Combining the physical benefits with the social aspect of group exercises makes exercise a lot more enjoyable. The group mentality is one of the best parts of assisted living. Doing things together has health benefits beyond exercise too; it can even improve residents’ mental health.
Many seniors are afraid of beginning an exercise routine, so if you have any doubts, consulting a doctor before you start is never a bad idea. If you are at risk of getting osteoporosis, you should begin with going to a doctor anyway. You want to make sure that your exercise routines are not going to worsen your conditions. Still, for most, getting exercise is a very good thing. It is never too late to start realizing the benefits that will come with this. Exercising in an assisted living facility is especially easy because of the close supervision you will have from trained staff members. If a problem were to arise, help is right there.