Introduction
In a world where staying active has become a pivotal aspect of healthy aging, understanding the significance of functional exercises is essential, especially for the elderly population. Through the lens of Functional Patterns (FP), we address crucial questions that resonate with seniors seeking a viable fitness solution. This article delves into the world of stretching exercises for seniors, core exercises for seniors, balancing, seated exercises for seniors, and strength exercises for seniors, shedding light on how to foster vitality and mobility in the golden years.
Unveiling the Best Exercises for the Elderly
As we venture into the realm of fitness for seniors, a pressing question often arises: What type of exercise is best for the elderly? The answer lies in the heart of FP - exercises that respect the intricate biomechanics of the human body. Here, we shall explore the different facets of core exercises for seniors, which hold the secret to enhancing stability and agility without causing strain. The usual approaches are banded exercises, body weight squats, lunges, isolated bicep curls, yoga, static stretching exercises for serniors, and anaerobic exercises to help elderly people with their sustained health.
While conceptually, these approaches mean well but they have trouble addressing the underlying issues. With a movement in isolation and having an elderly person moving with their current problem areas will tend to cause a domino effect of issues going forward. In FP, addressing the person's dysfunctions first, then building on those corrected movements is the building block to helping someone gain muscle and strength back in their lives. In this article, the goal is to address and give a direction to head into for future benefits and long-term results.
Building Muscle at Any Age
Age is but a number when it comes to building muscle, even at 70. This section uncovers the truth behind muscle development in seniors, emphasizing the role of strength exercises for seniors. By adopting the FP approach, one can foster muscle growth, maintaining a vibrant and active lifestyle well into the later years. While the mainstream tends to suggest the typical exercise path for seniors as the trend is in the fitness industry, FP recommends keeping things simple. The traditional path is to build muscle with isolated movement, but the most efficient path has been seen in FP doing exercises that respect our biomechanical blueprint.
The transformation of seniors, to rehydrating their muscles and body and becoming more buoyant is apparent when doing Functional Patterns exercises.
Below are a few results from Functional Patterns practitioners:
Regaining Leg Strength - A Possibility, not a Myth
Aging doesn't necessarily mean giving up on one's leg strength. This section addresses the query, 'Can the elderly regain leg strength?' with a resounding yes. Here, we dive into the benefits of balancing exercises for seniors, illustrating how FP incorporates techniques that facilitate leg strength recovery, fostering improved mobility and independence.
Prime Movers:
- Bilateral Movements that incorporate gait mechanics
- Squatting: Yes we incorporate squats but not in the sense of barbell lifting
- Core training that engages both the glutes and the core simultaneously
If you look here below, the client incorporates both glute tension, the quads, hamstrings, calves, and core all in one singular movement. This is what FP does, it allows for more effective training that not only saves time but satisfies our biomechanics.
Check out the full video here
Overcoming Barriers to Exercise in Senior Years
Exercise comes with its set of challenges, especially for seniors. We tackle the most common barrier to exercise for seniors, suggesting how incorporating seated exercises for seniors and other FP strategies can make the fitness journey less daunting and more attainable, fostering a healthier and happier life. While physios and other practitioners incorporate traditional lifting and rehabilitation techniques, FP does things differently, we train the system and not the symptoms of each individual. This approach leads to longer and more sustained bodies, allowing for even an older person to move better, which in turn allows for a better lifestyle.
Stretching - The Unsung Hero of Senior Fitness
Stretching often takes a back seat, yet it forms a cornerstone of senior fitness. While important is mis-interpreted. The way to incorporate a good stretch is through dynamic, holistic movements. There should be no need to individually stretch if the movement is done correctly. The typical word for stretching may be thought of as Yoga, Pilates, or even static stretching. By design, these movements are flawed, not allowing to have an opposite contractile tension on the muscle opposing the stretched muscle. In a good substantial activity, it will incorporate both; the contractile tension and the stretching. In FP, this is the norm a good movement allows for a good stretch and a well-placed contraction. Fully hydrating a prone area or fatigued muscles.
Not only, do we allow for a good stretch in seniors, but we get them back to moving effectively again!
Conclusion
Adopting a fitness regimen that aligns with the body's natural biomechanics the golden years can pave the way for a life filled with vitality and joy. Through Functional Patterns, seniors can discover a realm of exercises that not only enhance strength exercises for seniors and balance but also foster holistic well-being. As we conclude, we encourage you to delve deeper into the world of FP, perhaps starting with a visit to the FP website to gain insights and tips to kickstart your fitness journey in your senior years, filled with hope and promise.
