Study Shows the Benefits of Daily Exercise

Even if you have already moved into the “senior” category of life, medical experts say it is not too late to improve your health and mobility, and one of the best ways to do it is to walk. This was the findings based on the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) trial, which included more than 1,600 men and women between the ages of 70 and 89. Participants consisted of people who were not regularly exercising and fairly frail.

The participants were divided in half with one group assigned to daily walking and strength and balance exercises. The other group attended educational workshops and were introduced to gentle stretching routines. “After 2½ years, the volunteers in the exercise group were 28% less likely to have become disabled (defined by the inability to walk about 400 yards without help) compared to those in the education group. They were also 18% less likely to have had any episode of physical disability.” LIFE’s researchers say the results could have been more dramatic but for the fact that those in the workshop group learned about the benefits of walking and some started to walk and exercise on their own.

The advantages of walking include stopping bone mass loss, strengthening leg and abdominal muscles, and improving circulation by helping to lower blood pressure and reducing the risk for heart disease. It helps people lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, sleep better, increase mental sharpness, and improve balance and stability. Doctors say walking can increase your lifespan but if you have not exercised in a while, they caution to slowly increase your pace as well as the distance you walk. If you are unsteady on your feet, use a cane or walker, and everyone should wear properly fitting footwear.

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Our mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other retirement communities Hillsboro, OR has to offer. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, inviting atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, MorningStar of Hillsboro provides outstanding independent living.

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