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BITE-SIZED EXERCISE THE KEY TO IMPROVED HEALTH FOR SENIORS

For those of us who want to be fit, but are turned off by the prospect of long and exhausting sessions at the gym, lifting weights, and pounding aerobics, this news could be life changing.

Researchers say short bursts of regular bodyweight at-home-strength-training is enough for people over 65 to maintain movement and enhance their quality of life. It’s called ‘exercise snacking’ – a routine of five different exercises such as:

• single-leg knee bends
• sit to stand, or
• single-leg quarter squats, all performed continuously for one minute, with a one-minute passive recovery break in-between.

The key to successful fitness is to perform the exercise routines at least once per day.

It’s well known that as we age, we lose skeletal muscle mass, strength, power, and functional capacity. In turn, that can affect independence and the risk of disease and mortality.

Dr Jackson Fyfe of Deakin University wants to break down the traditional barriers to fitness that older Australians face and instil long-lasting healthy habits that keep them mobile into the twilight years. “The benefits of exercise are well known, but despite this just 6 per cent of adults aged 50 and over meet the current guidelines for muscle resistance training,” Dr Fyfe said.

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