Although exercise can’t reverse the effects of ageing, it can help. Being physically fit is one the best things for your mental and physical health.
“Physical fitness can lower the risk of chronic diseases and lower blood pressure, and can reduce symptoms such as anxiety and depression among some people,” states Scott Cheatham PhD, DPT, professor in kinesiology at California State University Dominguez Hills.
Fitness won’t make your birthday cake look any better, but it can make you functionally younger. Michele Olson PhD, senior clinical professor in sport science at Huntingdon College, Montgomery, AL, says that if you are fit, you can achieve the health of someone 10 to 15 years older.
What does the term “fit” actually mean? It turns out that it is a broad term that can be used in many ways. And it does not require you to look like an Olympian.
Cheatham explains that “it is being able have the muscle strength and endurance, power, joint mobility and overall flexibility to complete tasks or physical activities without undue tiredness or extreme effort.”
Do Not Obsess Over Fitness Age Benchmarks
Olson states that following the guidelines can help you stay fit and prevent the common aches and pains of daily life.
A qualified personal trainer can give you fitness tests. There are also options for at-home testing, such as the pushup test and sit-and-reach tests, or the sit-up test. Online articles provide information on the age-related norms for these exercises for women and men. These norms are a comparison of how men and women perform at these tasks. They don’t have to be compared with your own performance.
Your fitness age is also a measure of your cardiorespiratory fitness. While Cheatham states that it is not a reliable indicator of your overall fitness, the online fitness age self test from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology can be fun. Simply answer a few questions.
All of these are subject to caution. Cheatham warns that these benchmarks should not be taken too seriously. They should be tailored to your needs, goals and activities.
Remember that movement is more important than movement itself. Moving more should always be your ultimate goal.
Thompson states, “You are not going to decide one morning to become physically fit. Especially because you still have all the reasons that you used to not be active.” Instead, think about what you enjoy doing and set a goal to do them every single day.
This post was written by Darryl Johnson, Co-Owner of Apex performance. At Apex performance we are a community of highly trained experts looking to provide performance enhancement and a permanent lifestyle change for our clients in a fun and interactive environment. Members can take advantage of youth sports performance training near me, one-on-one training, small group classes and specialized courses for a wide variety of athletics, sports training and body goals!
