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Older Adults - Injury Prevention |
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Increase your activity and feel the benefits:
- Increased energy
- Better sleep
- Relaxation and reduced stress
- Fewer aches and pains
Some examples of activities enjoyed by older adults include:
walking, gardening, home exercise, social dancing, exercise classes, cycling, swimming, bowling and golfing.
Getting started
Start slowly and gradually increase your activity level to 30- 60 minutes most days
- Do activities you enjoy
- Make physical activity part of your daily routine
- Speak to your doctor if you have health concerns
- Remember to eat well by following Canada's Food Guide
Tips:
- Walk wherever you can
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator
- Start slowly with easy stretching
- Take a class and meet new friends
- Remember 10 minute periods of exercise add up over the day
Step ahead...to walking!
Do you know that walking is the number one activity for Canadians of all ages?
Enjoy walking:
- Wear comfortable clothing and shoes with anti-skid soles
- Drink water
- Wear sunscreen that's SPF 30 or higher and wear a hat
- Be safe - use walking aids as necessary and protect yourself from the sun, heat, and insects by wearing a loose, long sleeved shirt and pants
Older adults who exercise moderately for at least 30-60 minutes each day:
- Increase their strength, flexibility and balance and reduce their risk of falling
- Have better heart health
- Are better able to control their weight
- Reduce their risk of diabetes, osteoporosis, colon cancer
| For more information on falls prevention, call 3-1-1 |
Last updated March 2011
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