As you get older, physical problems become more common. Pain when moving can often be traced back to one-sided activities and too little exercise in everyday life. If you don't act correctly now, you will have to expect further restrictions and thus promote diseases such as osteoarthritis. Back problems also intensify with too little exercise.
This makes it all the more important, especially for seniors, to stay fit in everyday life. This means they can carry out the most important activities such as going to the doctor and going to the supermarket without outside help and remain independent for a long time. As a senior, do you want to get started straight away and strengthen your body again? But be careful: If you avoid exercise for a long time, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
Apart from that, you should get the right fitness equipment to optimize your physical abilities. Not every piece of fitness equipment makes sense for seniors. It is also important to determine the right training plans. This is the only way your body can benefit from the sporting sessions. However, if you ask him to do too much, subsequent problems are inevitable. Find out what's best for you here.
Important basic considerations before purchasing
There is now a large selection of interesting fitness equipment. However, not all of them are suitable for older people. If you are older, signs of wear and tear in your joints are typical. If you have had an eventful life in the truest sense of the word with a lot of activity, you will be more mobile. However, your joints are still affected.
The same happens to seniors who have never trained. The joints are probably no longer as flexible. After a while, pain from simple activities becomes part of everyday life. Your new fitness equipment should therefore – regardless of your lifestyle – be very gentle on the joints.
Therefore, stay away from devices that place the majority of the load on your knees. This includes, for example, the treadmill. Fitness equipment that simulates climbing stairs is also unsuitable for you at an advanced age.
An exercise bike, on the other hand, is an excellent choice. Many devices explicitly protect the joints and have different levels of difficulty. This allows you to adapt the intensity of the training to your own fitness level.
Also pay attention to the installation and compliance with certain safety factors. If you fall at an older age, it can have serious consequences. Any grab handles and a secure stand or seat are essential.
The cross trainer – gentle on the joints and individually adjustable
The cross trainer is ideal for seniors who want regular endurance training without putting too much strain on their joints. In contrast to the treadmill, the feet are constantly in contact with the pedals. The movement is gentle on the knee and the speed can be adjusted.
Although the cross trainers do not have a seat, they still provide a stable hold. This is ensured by the vertically attached bars, which guarantee harmonious movement of the arms and legs.
When it comes to stride length, it is important to adjust the device so that the length does not exceed approximately 45 cm. Regarding the step width, which measures the distance between the two pedals, you should limit yourself to a maximum of 20 cm. This creates a healthy gait. Your body will thank you!
Another advantage of the cross trainer is its flywheel. When choosing the right device, you should make sure that it has a flywheel of at least 15 kg. The flywheel is important to enable continuous movement. Devices with a lower flywheel do not produce a uniform movement.
Important: If you choose an elliptical trainer, you should not look down while using it. Watching TV, on the other hand, is a wonderful parallel activity.
The recumbent exercise bike offers the perfect solution for a relaxed workout
Are you already suffering from back problems and are you looking for a good alternative to the cross trainer? Then take a look at seated or recumbent exercise bikes . These will help you not to overload yourself. Sitting and recumbent ergometers are used to build leg muscles, but also target other muscle groups. You can also permanently strengthen your heart and circulation. However, if you already have an illness, find out whether and how often training is suitable for you.
Many seniors have problems with their neck and shoulder muscles. This tension comes from predominantly sitting activities in which the body is bent forward. The posture on the recumbent exercise bike counteracts this and therefore represents the ideal balance.
