Let’s assume you’re walking down the sidewalk when suddenly someone darts in front of you…or you’re in a supermarket aisle when an inattentive shopper’s heavy cart comes barreling toward you. Do you dodge that person or that cart and continue on your way unharmed? Or do you collide, possibly getting bruised or even being knocked to the ground?
The answer depends on your agility and today I talk with you about the importance of agility exercises in your regular fitness routine particularly for the older generation to avoid major injuries.
When working with elder clients our main objective is to help them keep their independence and vitality by:
- Increasing the muscle strength and hence increase bone density
- Increasing their agility and reaction to avoid freaky situations or injuries
What is agility? Agility is the ability to quickly change speed and/or direction.
The problem is that agility decreases with age…and that, in turn, increases the likelihood of falling. Add to this the loss of bone mass that starts by around age 40 (which may be earlier than you realized!), and the stage is set for the bone fractures that rob so many people of their mobility, their independence and even their lives. Therefore we include movement exercises that promote agility and increase a reactionary response.