There are many benefits to a physical fitness program no matter the age of the individual. The older we become the more the body can benefit from a functional strength training routine to help the body maintain strength, flexibility and mobility. As we age one of the most fearful things is losing independence. The best way to maintain mobility and independence is to perform regular functional strength training exercises.
Functional strength training simply involves exercising in a manner that reflects movements you’d do in every day life. Instead of sitting down using machines, you’d be using light weights, resistance bands, and medicine balls to work the body across all planes of motion. Basically you want to be moving as you’re exercising not just sitting down and applying resistance on some machine. A body in motion tends to stay in motion. There are only a handful of different human movement patterns and they don’t change as you age, only the intensity of the movements change.
As a certified Charleston personal trainer I regularly assist senior’s with a functional strength training routine to help with strength, flexibility, balance, and mobility. All the core components of fitness should be integrated into a senior fitness program for best results.
Contrary to popular belief, it is never too late to start a fitness program. Studies have shown that adults over 50 can increase their strength by 25% in less than 20 weeks. Continued dedication to the exercise routine is the best way to see results. Working with a certified fitness professional can help to assure the routine is safe and effective.
A senior fitness program led by a trained instructor will provide a perfect set of fun and safe exercises to help increase strength, flexibility and health. Other benefits of using a professional for an effective fitness program include reducing injury, proper monitoring, and motivation.
It's easy to stick to a routine when you have someone to help keep you motivated and accountable to your goals. Once you’ve decided to start exercising it’s all a matter of getting on the right plan and sticking with it. As the owner of a Charleston fitness facility I can tell you that selecting the most appropriate fitness center is an important decision. To help in the process, here are a few things you should look for. First is inquiring whether or not the facility has an AED available and if the staff has CPR training.
Next, it’s always a good idea to make a personal appearance to meet the staff and look things over for cleanliness and maintenance of equipment. Don’t think twice about asking to see their cleaning routine of the equipment that will be used. A clean facility is just as important as the training and personality of the staff.
If you’re not comfortable with the staff at the facility you’ll eventually lose your desire to show up for exercise and that will surely put a damper on the effectiveness of your program.
Shane Doll CPT, CSCS is a certified Charleston personal trainer, fat loss expert, speaker and founder of Shaping Concepts Personal Training Studios. As a specialist in burst training for body transformation and weight loss he provides nutrition and fitness coaching along with e-books, videos, and other resources. To learn more about functional strength training you can download his free e-book, “The Functional Training Difference.”