“No matter your age or athletic ability, strength training is the key to flexibility, mobility, improved performance, and lower injury risk. Anyone, at any fitness level, can and should strength train… And it doesn’t have to take hours at the gym to see results (nytimes.com).”
Your physical health is what enables you to lead an active, fulfilling lifestyle. Your muscle strength helps you maintain your independence, participate in the activities you enjoy, and even help prevent or reduce symptoms of chronic conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and heart disease.
The Pavilion Senior Living offers post-hospitalization rehabilitation and senior living services throughout Tennessee and West Virginia to help individuals heal, take control of their physical health, and strengthen their bodies. To help you stay strong, we are sharing tips for maintaining strength.
Tip 1: Talk to Your Doctor
Your primary care doctor knows your health history and understands what would be best for your lifestyle. Additionally, they know the status of your current health and how any conditions you have affect your daily life. Before you make any significant changes to your daily routine, seek your doctor’s advice.
Ask your doctor what exercises would be the most beneficial in helping you regain or maintain your strength, how often you should be doing these exercises, and what intensity level you should aim for. This will help you craft a routine that is safe and effective for your body.
Tip 2: Be Kind to Your Joints
There is no need to do 50 reps at a time or push yourself too hard too fast. All this will do is cause unnecessary discomfort and lead to more harm than good.
A joint connects the bones in the body without allowing them to physically touch, such as an elbow or knee. Like the rest of the body, our joints go through changes as we age. Over the years, the cartilage and synovial fluid that lines your joints dissipates, causing the joints to feel stiffer. This is why it is important to be mindful of protecting your joints and exercising in a way that is kind to them.
A great way to do this is by focusing on full-body movements. When exercising, choose motions that do not single out one joint at a time but instead encourage you to use your whole body. By doing so, you can relieve the pressure on your joints and improve your range of motion and flexibility.
Tip 3: Focus on Body Weight Exercises
You might associate strength training with traditional weights and dumbbells, but lifting weights may be too intense for some people. Seek the advice of your doctor to determine what intensity level is right for you.
Fortunately, there are other strength training options. Performing exercises that use your body weight can be just as effective for maintaining and building strength and can even help teach you proper form and technique, reducing the risk of injury.
Try bodyweight exercises such as:
- Squats
- Lunges
- Wall pushups
- Crunches or sit-ups
- Leg lifts
- Standing marches
Maintaining Your Strength at The Pavilion Senior Living
Our senior living communities in Lebanon, Tennessee, and Jane Lew, West Virginia, offer post-hospitalization rehabilitation services that help individuals rebuild and maintain their strength. Whether you are improving general mobility, recovering from an injury, or healing from a stroke or surgery, our compassionate team will work with you to determine the best treatment plan for you to achieve your highest level of wellness.
We specialize in:
- Care due to joint replacements or fractures,
- Acute medical conditions,
- Medical care following a hospital stay,
- Respiratory care,
- Stroke recovery,
- General rehabilitation due to weakness or physical decline,
- And wound care.
Our therapy and rehabilitation services are designed with your abilities, restrictions, and personal goals in mind. Providing exceptional care and peace of mind for our residents, guests, and their families is at the center of our mission at The Pavilion Senior Living.
Maintaining strength is essential for many aspects of your health and wellness. To find out which of our communities offer post-hospitalization rehabilitation services or to learn more about all of our senior living communities in Tennessee and West Virginia, we invite you to contact a member of our team or visit our website.
