Eager to Try out A New Sport?
The more we age, staying active can become quite a challenge. First and foremost, our bodies and minds might not function as properly as before, and there might be a couple of health conditions we’d have to consider.
On top of everything, it can be quite disheartening to comprehend that our physical capabilities have changed so much over time. However, it is still crucial for seniors to prioritize regular exercise and keep a healthy lifestyle to prevent mental and physical health conditions from developing or even worsening.
Improving strength, bone density and proper balance with constant exercise can definitely help reduce the risk of falls. Embarking on a serious, well-planned fitness journey can be quite daunting for many adults out there, especially if you’re not sure where to start.
That’s exactly why trying out new types of sports is the way to stay active and to see what you could enjoy doing long-term. Sports also provide a simple starting point and a tangible goal to strive for, whether we’re talking about team sport or simply a solo activity.
The benefits of starting a new sport (without paying an arm and a leg)
Starting a brand new activity and actively pursuing exercise as you grow old can bring plenty of benefits, both physically and mentally. Some of the main advantages of engaging in a new sport include:
- improved physical fitness – taking part in a brand new sport can definitely help introduce more physical activity into your day-to-day routine. Moreover, increasing physical activity is highly important to improving many parts of your body, such as muscle strength, balance, and, of course, coordination. Moreover, it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 35%.
- mental stimulation – mastering a brand new sport can definitely entail a huge amount of mental engagement and problem-solving skills. It also requires your brain to get used to new rules, strategies, and techniques which in the long run, can help improve cognitive function and mental agility. Keep challenging and use your brain, because it’s essential as you get older to improve concentration, sharpness, and memory.
- social interaction – Forming brand new connections and cultivating friendships can definitely impose a challenge, especially as you get older. But joining a sports team or engaging in group activities also presents a wonderful chance for social interaction and community involvement. Moreover, it provides a wonderful opportunity to meet other people with similar interests and hobbies which helps improve your emotional well-being, loneliness, and even isolation.
Walking for the elderly
Walking is a very gentle exercise that can be easily enjoyed by people of all ages, which makes it an excellent choice for the elderly. Not only has walking been proven to improve stress and anxiety, but it also boosts cardiovascular health, strengthens the muscles and bones, and improves balance and coordination.
Besides, walking outside provides the much-needed bonus of fresh air, the opportunity to enjoy nature, and catch up with a friend or a family member.
Swimming in later life
Swimming is a wonderful sport for the elderly, thanks to its low-impact nature. The overall buoyancy of water reduces stress on joints and also minimizes the risk of injury. Swimming also engages multiple muscle groups, increases your flexibility, and improves cardiovascular endurance.
Besides, water-based activities are especially beneficial for individuals with arthritis and any other joint-related conditions.
Tai Chi for older adults
Tai Chi is quite a gentle martial art that was invented in ancient times, and is oftentimes referred to as “meditation in motion.” It has its own unique flow, with easy movements that promote balance, flexibility, and strength.
Tai Chi also brought into the spotlight the concept of deep breathing and mindfulness, making it a wonderful sport to reduce stress, enhance mental clarity, and improve overall well-being.
Golf for the elderly
Golf is quite a popular sport among the elderly for many different reasons. Not only it require a moderate level of physical activity, but it also encourages social interaction and the opportunity to be outdoors.
The low-impact nature also makes it accessible to individuals with different fitness levels. There are many ways to make a round of golf nice and pleasant, like having a motorized golf trolley to carry the heavy club bag in between shots.
Walking football
Walking football is becoming increasingly popular. Men and women across the country are finding a brand new lease of life by returning to the football pitch and engaging in this slower-paced version of the game.
If you’ve never heard of it before, here’s what you need to know: as the name implies, running or jogging is not allowed. All tackles must be made without any physical contact. And yes, the modification was quite intentional, because it significantly reduces the risk of injury, allowing participants to continue playing well into their 80s while also keeping their passion for sport “alive.”
Yoga
Yoga comes with plenty of benefits for the elderly, including increased flexibility, improved balance, and enhanced strength. On top of everything, your stress levels will drastically diminish. It requires gentle stretches and poses that can be modified to accommodate individual abilities, which makes it quite suitable for people with limited mobility.
Moreover, regular yoga practice promotes proper joint health and mental well-being, which makes it an excellent choice to stay active and flexible.
Cycling
Cycling is yet another low-impact, cardiovascular activity that can be easily adapted to suit the needs of everyone. It does a wonderful job when it comes to improving cardiovascular fitness, strengthening your leg muscles, and enhancing overall endurance.
Bowling/lawn bowling
Bowling and lawn bowling is definitely a fun and social way to stay active. It also involves moderate physical activity, which also includes walking, swinging the ball, and engaging in friendly competition.
Bowling can definitely improve balance, coordination, and muscle strength, especially when it comes to arms and legs. Plenty of bowling alleys or lawn bowling clubs will offer all kinds of lightweight balls and ramps to efficiently assist those with limited mobility.
Pickleball
If you are more inclined to try a racquet sport, then you should try pickleball. It’s quite an interesting combination of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. Players use a bunch of paddles to hit a wiffle-like ball over a net.
Pickleball has taken off because it efficiently combines exercise, fun, and socializing. It’s also one of the top recommended sports for seniors, according to Forbes. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) sponsored a comprehensive study on pickleball.
The research discovered that what makes pickleball so interesting is that participants can decide the intensity of it. It can turn out to be quite easy or fast-paced, and as competitive as players prefer.
The study also discovered that regular participation in pickleball helps players meet certain exercise intensity guidelines. However, it’s much more than that. “The research team observed there’s plenty of socializing, conversation, and laughter before, during, and naturally after the pickleball matches.” the study showed.
Now, all this talk made us realize we can’t let you go without a couple of suggestions. First things first, we need to recommend good and high-quality sports equipment, so here’s one of our favorite sports blouses, a proper pair of trousers, and of course, a much-needed set of warm knee-high socks.
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