Movement is medicine 

By Ryhaan Shah

I have written about the importance of exercise in helping us to keep fit as we age, and perhaps understanding that our body was designed for movement will help to motivate us to keep to a regular regimen of exercise even if it is simply walking a few steps each day.
The benefits of movement are immeasurable. Know that every spinal disc, every muscle and every individual joint was designed to help you sit, stand, run and lift with every single movement you do, no matter how small.
Our body is a strong, resilient and complex system of bones, muscles, tissue, nerve endings, etc., that works in concert to power our movements. It’s been said that rest is rust, motion is lotion, and movement is medicine.
Physical activity helps us lower the risk of chronic diseases like stroke, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. It also helps us build stronger bones and muscles, which improves our balance and reduces our risk of falls.
Improved bone density and muscle mass not only help to prevent fractures but also help prevent or delay the onset of osteoporosis.
Exercise also improves our mental and brain health, reduces stress and anxiety, and helps us maintain our flexibility, energy levels and our independence, and by releasing endorphin hormones throughout our body, it can even help prevent or delay the onset of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Regular movement of our joints helps them remain supple and healthy, and this can be particularly helpful for those with arthritic conditions. And those of us carrying some extra weight, which can lead to heart disease or diabetes, can benefit from regular movement, which can speed up metabolism, increase muscle mass, and help us lose some of the weight.
It’s been said, “You don’t get old then stiff; you get stiff then old.” Exercise does not have to be strenuous or so energetic as to be tiring. If you have been playing tennis or cricket for most of your life, then you may be able to continue, though at a slower and less impactful pace.
Most exercises recommended for us are low-impact activities like walking, swimming or yoga, all of which can be done at our own pace and ability.
When at home, we can help ourselves by breaking up sitting time by getting up and walking around or doing some light household chores for a few minutes.
Moving our body can become hard work as we age, so we should not be discouraged as we note the change of pace or the inability to do as much as we could even ten years prior.
Canadian writer Robin Sharma said, “If you don’t make time for exercise, you’ll probably have to make time for illness.”
Medical professionals agree that regular daily movement is the most impactful habit for promoting longevity. Along with good nutrition, staying mentally and socially active, and getting a good night’s sleep, exercise can best promote our long-term health.
Most of us can exercise safely, even those with chronic conditions and mobility challenges. However, you should talk to your doctor before starting any exercise regimen to learn which options are right for your health and activity level.
Exercise is not only for the young. It’s a myth that we all get frail and weak as we age and that we do not require as much physical activity or that we will injure ourselves if we exercise at all.
As with all physical activity at any age, there must be care with our movements to prevent any mishap or injury. Perhaps having someone around when you exercise would be helpful and relieve any such anxiety.
We have to make adjustments as we journey on in our senior years. Some older people find these adjustments more difficult than others, and this most often has to do with our expectations of what ageing would be like or being unwilling to change behaviours or activities that are closely tied to our sense of self, of who we are.
I could not get my father to give up driving. He began driving as a teenager, and it was a skill that made him feel able and independent. He gave it up in his nineties when he was involved in a fender bender and was warned by the police that they would take him to court and take away his licence unless he stopped.
Maintaining our sense of independence is one of the most important issues of ageing, and that’s where keeping up with a regular exercise regimen can work wonders.