EXERCISING AND AGEING

Reguar exercise plays and essential role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It bolsters cardio vascular, immune and matabolic systems. Exercising as we age has become much more prevalent in the past 10 years due to the increased interest in the beneftits of exercise for all ages. The World Health Organisation recommends 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 times per week for eveyone. They also recommend two sessions of resisted exercise weekly and balancing on each leg for one minute every day to maintain good balance. You can use weights, resistance bands or your body weight to perform muscle strengthening exercises.

The direct benefits of exercise include a decreased rate of heart attack and sudden cardiac death and the incidence of stroke. Exercise improves your mental well being, blood pressure management, respiratory function and reduces type 2 diabetes. With improved fitness and balance there is a reduction in the risk of falls and therefore fractures. It is also documented that adults over 65 who participated in regular exercise score higher on common memory tests and have been shown to be at a reduced risk for dementia.

Prior to starting an exercise regime it is recommended to check with your GP and then begin a structured plan for exercise. Exercise can take many forms including cardio vascular, flexibility, strength, balance and resistance.

Dr Jan Naughton PhD

Titled Sports Physiotherapist

Jan Naughton Sports Physiotherapy July 2025

About the author:

Dr Jan Naughton received her PhD at Sydney University where she was lecturing in Sports Medicine and undergraduate physiotherapy. She specialises in shoulder injuries and has a sports physiotherapy practice in Wahroonga on Sydney's upper north shore working with two other specialist colleagues.