Exercise is essential for staying healthy and active as we get older. However, as we age, many adults adopt a more sedentary lifestyle, which can lead to a loss in muscle strength and issues with recurring pain. A significant cause of these issues is improper posture. Thankfully, there are multiple types of exercises that you can do to help correct these positional issues and restore proper posture.
Simple posture exercises can help improve posture and also help to alleviate the pain that comes from long periods of sitting. You can complete such activities either by standing, moving, or sitting (all mobilities can participate). Here are ten simple posture exercises for seniors.
Posture Exercises
Wall Posture Exercises
These exercises are simple yet effective, and they’re easy to practice anywhere. Just sit against a wall (making sure that your neck, spine, and tailbone are all touching) for at least 30 seconds. Then practice movements with your arms and legs while trying not to move back away from the wall. This exercise is excellent for helping seniors stay strong as they get older!
Practice Walking Posture
Walking posture is essential for maintaining good health for everyone, especially seniors. As your body ages, it becomes more challenging to maintain proper posture, leading to poor circulation and muscle atrophy, which can cause you to experience pain and discomfort.
Keep your back straight, and your head high when you’re walking. Don’t worry about how fast you walk—just focus on keeping good posture while walking. If you use a wheelchair or walker, practice this when trying to keep your back, shoulders, and head as straight as possible.
Weight Lifting
You do not need to lift heavy weights to maintain strength and posture. Practicing moving weighted objects while maintaining a straight back, shoulders, neck, etc., will help you keep your strength up. You can do these exercises with the help of a personal trainer or physical therapist.
Chest Stretching
When spending lots of time sitting, your chest may sink inward, contributing to rounded shoulders. Strengthening your chest and stretching it can help you keep a straighter posture.
Start by standing or sitting up straight. Reach your arms behind you as far as possible and try to join your fingers together in an interlock.
If you cannot join your fingers together, use a bar, baton, rope, or cloth to extend your reach. Keep head, neck, and spine straight. Take a deep breath while you stretch.
Isometric Rowing
Isometric rowing is a simple exercise that helps people who sit for long periods. It’s done in a seated position, and you’re going to bend your arms at a right angle as if you were resting them on an armrest. Breathe out, draw your elbows backward and try to push your shoulder blades together.
This exercise improves posture by helping to strengthen the muscles in the back and shoulders that help you maintain good posture. It can also help with pain management since it helps stabilize the muscles around your spine.
Practice Yoga
Yoga is a great way to help improve posture. Multiple types of yoga poses can help correct posture, and they involve holding certain positions for some time and breathing deeply. These poses can be done with a yoga instructor, doctor, or physical therapist.
The best thing about yoga is that it can be adapted to suit any fitness level. You can do gentle stretches and mild poses if you’re just starting. Those who are more advanced can try more complicated postures.
Pilates
Pilates exercises are designed to help you move more effectively, and as such, many can help improve both posture and range of motion. Pilates doesn’t just improve physical fitness; it also helps with mental acuity and emotional well-being. Like yoga, pilates can be done with the assistance of either an instructor, a doctor, or a physical therapist.
Improve Your Posture and Fitness with Shaker Place
It’s important to remember that posture is essential for your health. Good posture helps you stay balanced and strong, making it easier for you to get around and enjoy life.
Shaker Place Rehabilitation is a skilled nursing facility and rehabilitation center in the NY Capital District. Our residents enjoy access to various activities and amenities that promote healthy aging. We are also committed to helping seniors maintain their independence and improve their overall quality of life.
We know that maintaining good posture is important for seniors, and we hope that you’ve found these exercises to be helpful! If you’d like to learn more about how to maintain good posture as you age, please feel free to contact us. We offer a variety of fantastic services for seniors in the Albany area.