No matter how well you take care of yourself, it's not realistic to think your body can do at 65 what it did at 45 or even 55. That doesn't mean you should
reduce physical activities. It does mean you'll need to modify your expectations.
How your body changes -- As you age, the maximum pumping capacity of your heart
declines, resulting in less oxygen to exercising muscles and a decrease in your
cardiovascular fitness. Your muscles lose some strength and mass and become
less flexible, as do your tendons and joints. It takes longer to recover from
a muscle strain, sprain, trauma or injury.
The March issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource says that by staying physically
active, you can help minimize nearly all of these effects of aging. But the
physical activities you choose as you age will likely change.
This isn't to say you should reduce your physical activity. It means modifying
your activities to accommodate change. For example, if you've been a jogger
most of your life, you may need to switch to walking to protect your joints.
Or if you were a high-intensity aerobics buff, you may need to try low-intensity
aerobics, yoga, tai chi or Pilates. The important goal is to remain fit.
Fit at any age -- If you've had to slow down the treadmill a bit or make other
activity changes, how do you know if you're fit? Make an honest assessment of
your own physical abilities. Can you perform daily tasks without fatigue? Can
you perform moderately intense activities and talk at the same time? These are
both signs of being fit. And no matter what your age or where you are on the
fitness scale, you can always improve your personal fitness level.
Here are highlights from the March issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource.
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