Low impact sports to stay active

As we mature, it is no secret that motivating ourselves to keep active and energise our bodies is harder. Activities for older people are more challenging, and our confidence has dropped. However, keeping up with some exercise is essential for our overall wellbeing. 

So, what are the benefits of staying active for seniors?

Sports activities don’t have to mean causing stress and pressure on our bodies. There are a number of low impact sports suitable for seniors which will inspire you to stay active.

Sports and activities can help improve three core elements of your physical wellbeing – strength, mobility and balance. But as well as the obvious physical and mental wellbeing benefits from sports, staying active often provides a great opportunity to socialise. 

Experts say that staying physically active is one of the best ways to help prevent a fall, but of course, other safety precautions such as care packages and products shouldn’t be overlooked.

What low impact sports are suitable for your golden ages?

Whilst it is so important to remain active, it is even more important to remain safe while doing so. You are trying to strengthen your body, not cause damage! 

Let’s take a look at some sporting activities which can help keep you moving. 

Walking

Never underestimate the power of a good walk. Walking is a great low impact sport as it uses your muscles, gets blood pumping around your body and helps with your strength, mobility and stability on your feet. 

Tip: Try and stick to pavements and flat surfaces rather than across fields and soft grounds. 

Yoga

Believe it or not, yoga is a low impact sport that is here to stay and when you look at the positive impact it has on your body you can see why. Yoga can be enjoyed on your own or in groups of similar abilities and ages to help build your confidence. 

Yoga hugely helps improve your core strength, so if you ever lose your balance, the chances of you being able to catch yourself before falling increases. This form of exercise is also great to help prevent and improve joint pains. 

Tip: Don’t practise yoga on the floor. Senior classes usually involve a chair to help with your stability. 

Swimming 

For those with arthritis and joint problems, a low impact sport like swimming can make all the difference. The water buoyancy helps to remove the weight and pressure from the joints, helping to reduce the impact of the exercise. There are so many different types of classes, so you will be sure to find one that you find enjoyable. 

Tip: Even if you haven’t swum in a long time or have never been a strong swimmer, this shouldn’t stop you – you can learn a new skill at any age. Even if you start with floating on the water! 

Croquet

Now, croquet may feel a little more familiar and comfortable for seniors, and the benefits it can have to your body and mental wellbeing shouldn’t be considered any less effective. 

Croquet is a very gentle but sociable activity – it helps the muscles to loosen and stretch, and you can be as involved as you like. No matter how much you choose to swing or twist to perfect the technique for you, it can be tailored to your ability. 

Tip: Experience often trumps physical ability for croquet – why not challenge your younger family members to a game?

Golf

Golf is popular amongst older generations for a reason- it doesn’t have to be too strenuous and can make for a lovely afternoon on a beautiful sunny day. In recent years, it is also becoming a more popular low impact sport amongst females, as well as males. 

As well as the physical benefits, the hand-eye coordination required during golf is also very effective in keeping your brain engaged and challenged. 

Tip: Perhaps stick to being a fairweather golfer – avoid wet and soft grounds to reduce the risk of slipping.

Which new sport or hobby will you be trying? 

At Red Button, our mission is to help people live free, healthy, and happy lives with peace of mind. We hope these sports and tips have inspired you to keep active and improve your strength and stability. 

To help you remain safe and give you the confidence when being active, we offer a range of care packages: 

• Falls Detector Package – In the Falls Package you will receive a falls detector, a black wrist strap, a lanyard and the Lifeline base unit. The Lifeline unit is linked through to our 24/7 monitoring centre.
• Lifeline & Pendant Package – The pendant can be worn around the neck for ease of access or discreetly on the wrist, like a watch. Either way, the push button is simple to use and will alert the 24/7 monitoring centre instantly.
• Digital Fall Premium Package – Our digital solution consists of a tablet styled touchscreen unit. The package comes with a wearable falls detector which links to the tablet unit and one press of your pendant is enough to trigger an alert to our 24/7 response centre, taking calls 365 days a year. In the event of a fall or total immobility, an automatic alert will be initiated (without pressing the pendant)

For more information on our products and to discuss the most suitable telecare product for your needs, then get in touch:

E: hello@redbuttontelecare.co.uk 

T: 0800-0086277