I have had several patients and general people in the community say to me, “I am too old to be exercising.”  There is a large disconnect here where society has dictated that as you age, younger people are suppose to handle your physical jobs such as cooking, cleaning, and assistance getting in and out of the car.  In respects to exercise, elderly people are often worry they may hurt themselves, be in pain for activities, or move about so slow that it can be embarrassing socially.

By avoiding “getting up and moving” the three previous things get worse.  By not walking, participating in community exercise programs, small amounts strength training, etc. the body will lose critical components such as balance, the ability to maintain upright posture, muscle mass, and flexibility resulting in increased chances for falls.  Lack of movement causes ends of bone, which may be arthritic already, to dry up increasing the amount of joint pain. 

Finally, the social stigma that the elderly should always be in wheelchairs or power scooters because they move to slow is ridiculous!  By not moving about on their own a person will get slower and slower until there is no going back because the body is too far gone.

Get up and the door, go take a walk, maybe join some sort of exercise club, look into a local pool or water aerobics program, just look into what is out there.