I am a man of 69 and in good health. Now I hear everywhere that I should exercise. I used to do this, I always liked to play football, but that club no longer exists. I could look for a new sport, but I wonder if that still makes sense? I will never be as fit as I used to be, will I?
J. Carrier
Frank Mulder, physiotherapist
Old age does not always come with defects: 15 percent of the over-75s are in good health. Good health is considered to be people who describe their own health as ‘good’ or ‘very good’, who are not taking medication prescribed by a doctor, and who are not suffering from a chronic illness. Apparently you belong to a majority of the elderly who feel healthy and have no serious chronic conditions. Or has a disease that causes little discomfort thanks to the treatment. Of course you want to keep it that way. Research shows that social contacts and exercise in particular contribute to good health.
So it is good to exercise at any age. Almost half of the over 55s participate in sports. Athletes have a smaller chance of physical limitations than non-athletes. It is not surprising that, as you get older, you start exercising less or less intensively. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t make sense. Seniors should engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five to seven days a week to have a positive effect on their health. So you don’t necessarily have to play football or play sports, but you can also cycle, walk, do odd jobs or garden.
Exercise prevents you from getting sick. And if you do develop a condition, it has a positive effect on the course. Another good side effect is that better physical health reduces psychological problems.
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