Page 72 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2025 - Online Magazine

SENIOR RESOURCES SENIOR RESOURCES

Added Benefits of

exercise for an aging PoPulation

by Marita Littauer Tedder

e all know that exercise is told her I’d been doing yoga and prevent aging issues, but it does
good for our health. We strength classes. She suggested I go make recovering from them quicker
Wappreciate the benefits back to yoga but just go slow. My and easier. Mandi Amburn, an
including a firm body, strong neurosurgeon said the same and Austin-based Orthopedics PA
muscles, and better balance—not suggested I start back at strength reports: “Not only is physical fitness
to mention an overall sense of well- training. Five years later, I have no and strength an evidence-based
being. As we age, however, exercise back pain and feel wonderful.” factor when going into surgery or
has added benefits. Keep reading to sickness—with strength playing
see why staying active is especially Pre-hab a role in an easier and more likely
important for seniors. full recovery—it also aids in injury
Sherry told me her story. She’d prevention. In an aging population,
Knee Replacement been active, but due to extreme good functional mobility,
hip pain, she’d deteriorated from
My close friend and workout buddy, walking five miles a day to being proprioception, and balance
becomes particularly important as it
Melanie, had a knee replaced last frail and fragile. Her surgeon greatly reduces the risk of falls and
year. Her doctor told her that since recommended a “pre-hab” program injury.”
she was in good physical condition, to increase her strength and stamina
it made the recovery much easier. to facilitate a better outcome and Numerous studies tout the benefits
Her muscles were strong, so they quicker recovery from surgery. “I of exercise for the senior population.
supported her knee. continued with my pre-hab therapy Some say it helps with the
until my surgery on March 28. By prevention of Alzheimer’s. Recently
Cancer May, I was able to discontinue PT the New York Times addressed the
and started attending classes at
Tommy, one of the men in our the UMC Activity Center. I have importance of power as a use-it-
fitness class, announced that he’d been called a poster child for hip or-lose-it ability. The NYT article
been diagnosed with prostate replacement surgery and feel cites Dustin Jones, a Kentucky-
cancer a few months earlier. He was that the pre-hab therapy greatly based Doctor of Physical Therapy,
given treatment options, and he increased my strength and stamina as saying: “when you lose power,
chose radiation. His care team was to facilitate a better outcome for the single tasks often feel draining.
amazed at how well he had done. hip replacement procedure.” If you struggle to run up a flight
They attributed it to his overall of stairs or are unable to quickly
strength and good health. Be Intentional step up onto a curb at a busy
intersection, that’s a lack of power.”
Auto Accident I was introduced to Jan. She’d The article continues: “But with
always been physically active; her the right exercises, you can restore
Tammie, also in our class, shared father was a football coach, and power you’ve lost.”
her story. “Five years ago, my she’d married a professional football
husband and I were in a horrible player. But now, at 76, after a long If we are “frail and fragile,” we can’t
car wreck when a truck pulled out bus tour, she realized she didn’t live our best life. Get engaged in
in front of us. I broke vertebrae in have the strength she used to have. staying fit. You can do it on your
my lower back. After wearing a Her knees were killing her. She own, but most of us find that the
brace for three months, I started signed up at the local gym and is friendship and accountability we get
Physical Therapy. After only three now being intentional about it. She from a group fitness class keeps us
sessions, the physical therapist told goes twice a week, walking two doing it. Silver Sneakers may be a
me I didn’t need to come back! She miles and doing aerobics. good place to start. Many Medicare
told me she didn’t know what I programs offer no-cost classes for
had been doing before the wreck, I could tell you many more stories. adults who are 65+. You stand to
but that I was in amazing shape. I Regular exercise doesn’t always benefit.

72 Lubbock Senior Link