Seniors have different needs and limitations than younger people looking for a good exercise work-out plan. As a result, water-based exercise is a particularly good choice for seniors. For seniors, selecting a work-out plan that limits the possibility of injury is extremely important. Next to walking, water-based work-outs have the lowest injury rate. In fact, exercising in the water is frequently used as part of a physical therapy work-out program for those who are working to recover from major surgery.
Water is exceptionally well suited to those who are not generally very fit or for whom land based work-outs are difficult because of previous injuries. The other benefit of water-based work-outs is that they work the whole body. This makes them perfect for strength building and they are good aerobic training as well.
Because of water’s gentle resistance, swimming works almost all the muscle groups at the same time; resulting in that total body work-out. The benefits of a water work-out include building flexibility, endurance and muscle strength.
Running is an excellent aerobic training work-out, but is poorly suited to most seniors. With swimming one gets similar aerobic benefits without the negative effects that running can have on an aging body. An extra benefit of swimming is that you are getting resistance training exercise at the same time. Swimming doesn’t strain the connective tissues in the way that some weight-training work-outs, aerobics or running does. That means it is the perfect low impact work-out for seniors who want to regain some lost level of fitness or for those who want to maintain their level of fitness while taking it a bit easier on their aging body.
For those facing some physical challenges, a swimming work-out is a particularly good choice. Water’s buoyancy factor makes a swimming or water exercise plan the least injury prone exercise you could choose. Seniors, particularly those who have issues with their joints will get the best result with the least chance of injury from water work-outs. Water has the benefit of reducing a person’s body weight by 90%. That means that a person weighing 220 pounds on land weighs 22 pounds when they are standing in water up to their chin.
As we have noted, water exercises are far less likely to result in any injuries. That means that you can exercise more often and your work-outs will be more effective for your whole body. Any movements that you make in water will provide 12 times greater resistance than movements made in the air; thus adding greatly to the benefit you receive from water exercises.
Water based work-outs do not even have to involve actual swimming. You can simply stand in water and perform exercises; gaining the benefit of water resistance while never leaving your feet.
So, for seniors, a fitness regime that is based on a water work-out can be a very safe choice. It fulfills the desire for exercise, offers added flexibility and mobility and is so low impact as to significantly reduce the chance for strain or injury.
