GUEST POST: Staying Safe Whilst Being Active

It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman, young or old, being active and staying healthy is important. Health comes hand in hand with exercise, and it does not come as a surprise that many doctors advise their patients to start working out as a mild therapy. People with health problems and elderly may hesitate to take this advice in fear of hurting themselves, but there is no need to fear. If you follow a few safety tips you will not have any problems with your workout.

First: Talk to your doctor 

Before you start any form of exercise, you should check up with your doctor first. Tell them that you are going to start exercising and let them know what kind of workout you will have. Any serious health problems such as chest pain and dizziness are a reason to be careful and alert.

To avoid injuries 

One of the main concerns are injuries, since you are not so young it may be more difficult to get better than it was in your youth. This is why you should take ten minutes before you start to warm up thoroughly, and ten minutes after you finish to cool down and stretch your muscles. Make sure you start slowly and boost activity level gradually. Starting too enthusiastically may result in pulled muscles, stiff joints, or even more serious injuries such as fractures, and to avoid getting injured listen to your body and take it slow.

If you have osteoporosis 

Osteoporosis occurs with women more often than men, and weakened bone structure can lead to fractures of hips and spine, which can severely impair your mobility. No wonder women with osteoporosis chose to lay low, fear can make you think you are more fragile than you actually are. Exercise can strengthen your muscles and joints, and it can even improve your balance so you will be less likely to fall and hurt yourself. To make sure you are not doing any risky movements, talk to your doctor about the best kinds of exercise for you, eat plenty of dairy products and other appropriate osteoporosis foods which are beneficial for weakened bones such as salmon and tuna.

When it’s cold outside

There will come a time when it’s going to be cold outside, and your first instinct may be to stay inside instead, but if you keep waiting for ideal conditions you may be staying inside for a long time. The most important thing is to wear layers: workout apparel like hoodie and a warm hat (or ear muffs) will make you feel well protected, and they will not be too much even when you get warmed up and sweaty. Don’t wear too much clothes or your movements will be limited and you risk an injury. Also, if it’s slippery, choose to walk slowly or with a cane just in case.

Growing older does not mean you have to wrap up in blankets and lock yourself in your home. Regular exercise can slow down the ageing process, help you stay healthy, and even manage some symptoms of illness and pain. Don’t be reluctant to try to implement healthy habits in your life, they will make you more confident and much happier, just make sure you don’t push yourself too much.

Peter Minkoff