Popular fitness trend for seniors in the United States: Experience the charm of water aerobics!
When people get old, health is not only a blessing, but also a responsibility. With the increasing awareness of healthy aging, water aerobics and yoga have become the new favorites of the elderly! Next, let's take a look at what magical charm this sport has?
What are the benefits of water aerobics for the health of the elderly?
1. Enhance cardiopulmonary function
Water aerobics, also known as water sports or water fitness, is aerobic exercise in waist-deep or chest-deep water. It is a low-impact, low-stress exercise method.
It can help the elderly improve their cardiopulmonary function, enhance the heart's ability to pump blood, and improve the ventilation capacity of the lungs.
2. Reduce joint pressure
The buoyancy of water can reduce the pressure on our joints.
Even patients with arthritis or osteoporosis can safely perform aerobics. They can effectively relieve joint pain by exercising in the water.
3. Improve muscle strength and endurance
- Water exercise requires the whole body muscles to work together, which can effectively help us improve muscle strength and endurance.
4. Improve balance
- Water exercise requires a certain balance in the water, which can effectively improve the balance ability of the elderly and reduce the risk of falling.
5. Helps mental health
- Exercise in the water can relax the body and mind and relieve some stress, which can regulate the mood of the elderly and ensure mental health.
6. Helps improve sleep
- Regular water exercise can improve sleep quality, which is also important for the elderly!
In conclusion, water aerobics is a suitable exercise for the elderly, which can help them stay healthy and improve the quality of life. It seems that it is not unreasonable for it to become the new favorite of the elderly now!
However, we know so many benefits, what should the elderly pay attention to when doing aerobics in the water?
1. Safety first!
The physical condition of the elderly may not be as good as that of the young, so when doing water aerobics, safety must be ensured first.
It is recommended to do it in a place where lifeguards are present or accompanied by family members.
2. Choose appropriate exercise
There are many types of water aerobics, such as water gymnastics, water yoga, water walking, etc.
Old people should choose the right exercise for themselves and avoid injuries caused by too intense exercise.
3. Pay attention to breathing
When exercising in water, the breathing method is different from that on land.
This requires the elderly to learn the correct breathing method to avoid physical discomfort due to poor breathing.
4. Exercise in moderation
- When doing aerobic exercise in water, the elderly should do it in moderation according to their physical condition to avoid physical fatigue caused by excessive exercise.
5. Warm up and stretch
- Before starting aerobic exercise in water, you should warm up and stretch enough to reduce the risk of sports injuries.
6. Keep warm
- Although exercising in water can generate heat, the elderly have poor body temperature regulation ability. Therefore, after exercising in water, you should dry your body in time and wear warm clothes to avoid colds.
7. Dietary attention
You need to pay attention to your diet before and after exercise, and avoid exercising on an empty stomach or full stomach!
You should also replenish water and nutrition in time after exercise.
8. Perseverance
Water aerobics has many benefits for the health of the elderly, but perseverance is required to see the effect.
It is recommended to exercise 2-3 times a week, each time for about 30 minutes.
Case analysis:
72-year-old retired teacher Barbara gave up jogging because of her knee pain. At the doctor's suggestion, she began to try water aerobics. After several months of regular exercise, Barbara found that her joint pain was significantly reduced, and her daily active exercise improved her mood and regained her previous smile and confidence! Water aerobics not only enhanced Barbara’s cardiovascular function, but also helped her rediscover the joy of exercise!
