8 great Chicago area walking paths for older adults Exercise contributes to healthy aging — that much everyone can agree on. But you don’t need a gym membership or fancy equipment to boost your physical activity. All you need is a path and a good pair of sneakers, because walking is one of the best […]
The social, low-impact sport appeals to active older adults If you find yourself or someone you love in an (ahem) pickle over lack of exercise, may we suggest a game of pickleball? The mood- boosting sport surged in popularity, growing almost 40% over two years, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s 2022 Topline […]Read More
In a pandemic plus, older adults pivoted to virtual fitness classes to stay in shape The pandemic hit older Americans hard, but it also prodded many to jump on the technology bandwagon — including virtual fitness classes. Tech use among older adults has soared over the past two years, across a wide variety of devices […]Read More
Strengthen muscles to improve balance and stability Some adults become less stable on their feet as they get older, but losing a sense of balance isn’t an inevitable part of aging. Exercising to improve stability while strengthening core muscles may help older adults remain independent, living on their own terms. “The core isn’t just defined […]Read More
Tai chi’s gentle postures benefit body and mind Petra Lopez-Garcia kept thinking about her approaching 80th birthday. As the milestone neared, the South Side resident searched for a way to keep active as she embarked on her next decade. While she had tried yoga, she wanted an activity that would be gentler on her arthritic […]Read More
Chair yoga provides support and stability For decades, Chicagoan Patricia Mamantov worked out regularly, doing water aerobics and Pilates. But when arthritis caused the 75-year-old’s shoulders to constantly ache, she switched to chair yoga. “It’s an excellent way to move your body, not strain it, and not finish feeling like you’ve been through the wringer,” says […]Read More
10 exercises that enhance strength and balance By the time we reach age 30, we start to lose muscle mass — about 3% to 5% per decade — and as we get older, that loss accelerates. If we’re inactive, the loss goes even faster. Add in worsening eyesight, along with poorer balance, strength and flexibility, […]Read More
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: Over the last year, I sometimes forget things. I am 66 but I always have had a great memory. What can I do to avoid becoming more forgetful? A: Most of us have had firsthand experience with memory lapses. We find ourselves flustered trying to recall a […]Read More
Harvard Health Blog For many years, it was clear that my father was becoming hard of hearing. Normally gregarious and the life of the party, he became increasingly withdrawn because he couldn’t hear well enough to partake in conversations around the table. He began to walk with a shuffling gait. He was declining in front […]Read More