Squats.
One of the most important exercises or abilities one should strive to maintain the ability to do for as long as possible is the ability to squat.
I often remind people, if you want to still be able to do a movement when you are 80+, you need to keep doing it today.
Case in point: As a Registered Nurse, I still do some per diem work in a local nursing home. You see people wheeling themselves around, but few are still getting up on their own or getting themselves up and down off the toilet on their own.
Even fewer are still walking around on their own.
If you needed a reason to not skip leg day…that’s it!
One more noticing from my years as a nurse: once someone has to use a wheelchair for an extended period of time due to rehab or injury, the number of people who transition away from using that is fairly small.
In summary: leg strength is one of the most important abilities one should maintain or enhance to help ensure a higher quality, more independent life, for longer.
I work with an 81-year old couple once a week for 1:2 personal training. They get around pretty good, but you can see that they have some weakness in their legs. My encouragement for them: a few times a day, practice sitting down to their chair in a controlled motion (don’t let themselves just plop!) and getting up. Do about 10 reps of that 3-4 times per day.
Fitness programs are not just for younger people chasing aesthetics. Fitness is for anyone, at any age. It’s about maintaining or enhancing the ability to be as functional as possible as long as possible.
We’ve helped many seniors feel stronger and more capable and we’d love to help you or someone you love.
Contact Coach Candice today at 570.715.4440 and she will discuss the options that we have available.
You are also welcome to book your FREE consultation, our No Sweat Intro today by clicking or tapping on the button below.