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Health and wellness is a lifelong journey. As we age and approach the magic number of 55, strategies need to be modified to enhance mobility, stability and performance.
Don’t wait until you turn 55 to develop an active lifestyle that includes exercise. Waiting until retirement to become serious about your health and wellness is a common mistake that I see in clinical practice.
It is not practical or realistic to run a marathon for the first time at 55. I recommend gentle exercise, improving motion, balance and muscle strength. The important thing is to find an activity that you enjoy and leads to regular participation.
Specific exercises that I recommend for people in the over 55 category include: walking, hiking, yoga, Pilates, qigong, tai chi, strength training, pickleball and swimming.
High-intensity interval training produces the best results for most people, however high-intensity exercise is often difficult or impractical as we grow older. The important thing is to be active and find something that you enjoy. If you enjoy it, you will continue to do it on a regular basis and enjoy the benefits of an active, healthy lifestyle.
Douglas Broman is the founder of Maple Grove’s Broman Chiropractic & Wellness Center, which also serves Plymouth. Find more at bromanchiro.com.
