Taking Stock at 50 | Physio for Seniors in Vancouver

Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength – Betty Friedan

Being a “50-something” can change the way you think and feel. The mind wants time to slow down and the body tends to want more rest. Physical activities may seem harder to perform while you may feel aches and pains more often than before. 

While it is a fact of life that aging happens, it is important not to let the changes it brings affect your activity, mobility and overall health inappropriately.

There is no reason why you cannot continue to be active and enjoy many of the physical fitness routines you enjoyed in your younger years. In fact, it is vital that you do.

Changes in the body during the aging process include:

• Bone density decrease
• Muscle mass decrease
• Balance and coordination decrease
• Flexibility reduction
• Brain function decline

This is a daunting list to anyone in their 50’s who stops to contemplate the inevitable and fast approaching future of “senior living”. But entering the years of the “older adult” does not have to include a rapid rate of decline. Just as one can plan for a comfortable financial future, one can also plan for a comfortable and physically fit future. Age appropriate fitness is attainable for anyone. 

Fortunately, with years lived comes knowledge and experience, how you implement it now really matters. A little investment before retirement can reap dividends on how you live your life at 60, 70 and beyond. Each time you participate in physical activity or visit your Physiotherapist think of it as a contribution to your healthy body. Afterall, how can you enjoy a healthy retirement fund without a healthy body to go with it?

Best Practices for Over 50’s

• Speak to a Physiotherapist before starting any new physical activity. Remember: Asking for help and seeking support helps boost success rates. Physiotherapists are experts in movement and can help you plan the right activities for your body. They can help you strengthen where you need to and, using stretches and massage, ease any pain associated with your new activities.
• Add strength training to your routine. Most 50-somethings know the importance of walking, cycling and swimming, but pumping iron does not often come to mind. Remember: Loss of muscle mass is part of the aging process. Luckily, muscles can rebuild at any age. Strong muscles support mobility and ensure balance.
• Include weight bearing exercises for arms and legs. These can include walking and pilates or yoga with one-legged poses and planks. Remember: The best way to avoid osteoporosis, or the loss of bone density, is through weight bearing exercises.
• Balance and coordination declines with age. Continuing sports such as golf or tennis can slow the process. Consider dance classes to keep your steps light and purposeful. Think: If you notice any worrying loss of balance and/or coordination speak with your doctor and your physiotherapist. Often the imbalance can be observed in your posture or alignment. Issues can be resolved with physiotherapy treatment. 
• Exercise your mind. Learn a new skill. Find a new hobby. Practice remembering your exercises rather than having a YouTube Video lead you through them. Remember: The brain can build new pathways to optimize function. It can also shut them down if not used. Cognitive decline is a concerning aspect of aging with dementia more and more prevalent in the aging population. 
• Why not write a list? Add exercise to your “to do” list. Write down new exercises you have learned or activities that you enjoyed and why. If you prioritize your investment of time in your exercises you will be more likely to get them done. Remember: a list is helpful at any age, while checking off a task as complete is very satisfying.

TOP TIP:  Energy expended wisely now amounts to value added to a happy future in the form of mobility, strength and vitality as you age. Physical activity along with physiotherapy support can reduce your dependence on pharmaceuticals.

Let’s Recap!

Take a vested interest in your body now before you lose independence. You yourself are your greatest asset. 

Reasons to see your Physiotherapist:

• Low Energy
• Pain in muscles and/or joints
• Unable to enjoy physical activity you previously enjoyed
• Increased loss of balance or coordination
• Poor posture

Energy expended wisely in your Pre-Senior years will add value to a happy future in the form of mobility, strength and vitality as you age.

By Joanna Hodgson Spivey, a person just recently contemplating being 50-something, on July 15, 2023.