Keeping Mobile in Old Age
As we get older our mobility tends to steadily decline. A number of factors contribute towards this though the main one is muscle atrophy (wastage). Muscle wastage has a number of different causes including lack of use and damage inflicted over time. There are also a number of conditions such as arthritis which can make movement harder, not only restricting mobility but increasing muscle wastage. Fortunately there are a couple of ways to ensure that you remain mobile for as long as possible.
The first and most important is exercise, in effect the rule with muscles is “use them or lose them”. Exercise as simple as walking for half an hour a day can be very effective in preventing atrophy, particularly for your legs. Strength training has an even greater beneficial effect, not only because it helps you build up muscle, but also because having the strength to perform tasks harder than you encounter in your day to day life, makes them far easier.
Maintaining strength is not the only way you can help your mobility though. Just as important is flexibility. After all there is little point in being able to lift 100 pound weights if you can’t bend over to reach them! Flexibility can be maintained and improved by stretching exercises such as those used to warm up before and after training. If you want to improve or regain flexibility then exercises such as Yoga can be hugely helpful.
The final and most important type of exercise though is cardio. Cardio vascular exercise will help ensure that you can keep moving, as well as helping you avoid heart disease and control your weight. Cardio can be as simple as walking to the shops instead of driving, or doing gardening and housework. Of course more strenuous forms of exercise such as swimming or running are recommended as you will get even more benefit from them.
If you are unable to exercise or if your mobility is already restricted then there are a number of mobility aids. From canes to scooters and stair lifts these can all help you move around and retain independence. If you’re worried about the cost then there are several organizations dedicated to helping to provide for remodelling houses to make them easier to mover around in. For example in the US there is the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs that can help you buy mobility aids. In the UK Disabled Facilities Grants are designed to help poorer people add modifications to their houses to keep them out of care homes.
——————————————
Article contributed by:
Daniel Frank is a blogger from the UK and who writes regularly on subjects related to sport and disability. He is also currently working on behalf of a stairlift manufacturer that specialises supplying people with mobility aids like a disabled stair lift.