Keeping fit as you get older

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

As you get older you may not be able to do the level of exercise you could 20 years ago, but it's still important to keep active.
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic say that the pumping capacity of your heart and your muscle flexibility go down with age. But this does not mean you should stop exercising - rather, you should adapt.

If you stay physically active you will minimize many of the effects of aging. If you have always done jogging, maybe you might switch to walking to help alleviate the impact on your joints. You can also switch from high intensity aerobics to a low intensity version or exercise like Pilates, tai chi or yoga.

To check if you are fit, do an assessment of your physical activity. Can you still do everyday tasks without getting fatigued? Do you walk and talk at the same time? Whatever your age, you can always improve your fitness by taking exercise of an appropriate type.

Source
Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource March 2005

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