Treat exercise like medicine: Halifax physiotherapist

Physicians are encouraged to prescribe exercise to help sooth symptoms.

Doctors can prescribe all sorts of medication, but how about physical activity?

Higher levels of exercise in seniors are associated with better quality of life, but it doesn’t matter how old someone is when they begin.

“Things that are good for our body when we’re 12 years old are also good for our body when we’re 72 years old,” said Laura Lundquist, a physiotherapist and the owner of Zoomers Physiotherapy and Health Solutions.

Incorporating exercise into your daily routine is important as you age. So much so, a new report published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) suggested doctors should prescribe exercise more often -- especially for older patients.

“We often think about exercise as medicine, and if there was a pill that we could take that could do for you what exercise can do, we would all take it,” said Lundquist. “So the trick is, just like a pill, knowing the right dosage and the right kind for you is really important.”

For some, that could mean focusing on strength training. For others it could be heart health.

“I think one of the challenges as we get older is that often we do have other chronic health conditions that we’re managing in the background,” she said.

According to the CMAJ report, physical activity is a modifiable risk factor for more than 30 chronic conditions in older adults, and 150 minutes per week of moderate activity can reduce risks.

“We have client of all ages. I have a client who’s 85 years old, and the stuff that we do isn’t a whole lot different. It’s important to do squats, chest press,” said Rayanne Hunter, a personal trainer and the owner of RH Fitness and Wellness.

It’s functional exercises like squats and sit-to-stands which could really benefit someone in their day-to-day life.

“You want to be able to sit down and stand back up. If you were to fall, you want to have the strength to pick yourself back up,” said Hunter. “So if we build those strong muscles, they will be there to assist us throughout our aging years.

“For those who want to make positive changes, it doesn’t need to be drastic.

“People can feel unsure about where to start or perhaps it’s too late. They’ve got a knee that has significant osteoarthritis or some other issue, and it really is never too late to get started,” said Lundquist.

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