EXERCISE: Even more beneficial for oldies
October 29, 2019 • 1 min read
-- The days of flexing your best bits for Instagram followers might be behind you, but that’s no reason to put up your feet.
In fact, the older you get, the more important it is to exercise.
Researchers at the Faculty of Sports Sciences at the University of Burgundy Franche-Comté in Dijon, France, examined 733 participants, aged 65 years and over, in a cardiac rehab programme.
Dividing rehabbers into three groups according to their age – under 65 years, 65-to-79 years, and 80-plus years – scientists noted improvements in both physical ability and psychological wellness across all three groups.
However, those with the greatest physical impairments at the outset of the programme showed the greatest improvement.
The findings have implications for approaches to treating heart disease, particularly as people aged over 65 years are more likely to suffer from the condition.
So, while exercise boosts both physical ability and mental health, regardless of a person’s age, it is the oldies who could stand to benefit most.
Keep on sweatin’.