adminEXERCISE is a critical part of a healthy lifestyle, and it can be a part of your life no matter what your age. In fact, staying active becomes increasingly important as you get older. Even frail seniors of advanced age can improve muscle strength and agility with exercise, which is important for preventing falls and injuries.
For seniors who have a hard time performing aerobic exercise, using a Whole Body Vibration (WBV) platform such as the Vibrator Machines in Body Focus Gym Executive, can help them improve performance, allowing them to become stronger, faster and more agile, according to recent research.
WBV stimulation affects your entire body musculature, as well as your internal organs and glands. Your muscle spindles fire secondary to the mechanical stimulation produced by the vibrating plate, and this rapid firing of the muscle spindle causes a neuromuscular response that leads to physiological changes in your brain as well as your entire body.
As reported by Reuters: “Twenty-four men and women over 65 performed 10 squats held for 45 seconds on the vibrating platform, with a minute rest in between, three times per week for 11 weeks. The study also included 25 people who did not take part in the vibration exercises.
“Those who did the exercises were, on average, able to do two more reps of upper and lower body strength exercises, had almost half an inch more lower body flexibility, and walked 33 yards one second faster than before the vibration training . . . ”
Loss of bone mass is one of the common signs of aging, because as you age your existing bone is absorbed by your body while new bone is created to replace it. In the case of osteoporosis, the formation of new bone falls behind the rate of bone absorption, leading to weakened, thinner and more brittle bones. A thinning hipbone is a major concern if you are elderly, because any fall increases the risk of a broken hip, which always carries a great risk of complications and usually requires prolonged specialized care for recovery. It’s estimated that 25 percent of elderly people suffering a hip fracture die as a direct result.
Weight-bearing exercise, like resistance or strength training, can go a long way to prevent brittle bone formation, and can help reverse the damage already done. WBV training can also be helpful here, especially in the elderly.
In a study by Medical College of Georgia researchers, using vibration therapy 30 minutes daily for 12 weeks improved bone density in mice, a finding that adds support for their use in humans, especially the elderly. It’s thought that the vibrations prompt movement of the cell nucleus, which may trigger the release of osteoblasts to build bone. Previous studies have also found that WBV training increases bone density in the hip, and inhibits bone loss in the spine and hip areas.
By stimulating your fast- and super-fast muscle fibres, Whole Body Vibration training appears to be very helpful for preventing and/or reversing age-related muscle wasting. It will also kick-start your pituitary gland into making more human growth hormone (HGH), which plays an important part in promoting overall health and longevity. WBV is a truly revolutionary approach to fitness because it addresses your neuromuscular system as a whole, rather than one limb or muscle group at a time. Not to mention it’s time efficient, allowing you to trim off several precious hours per week from your workout time! When used together with my Peak Fitness programme, which includes high intensity interval training; a series of powerful high-intensity burst-type exercises, you can complete your entire workout a fraction of the time you’d have to spend on traditional workouts.
WBV training using our fitness equipment is really the perfect complement to high intensity interval training to build strength, shed excess fat, and improves athletic performance. Both of these techniques also help you produce growth hormone (HGH) naturally. To learn more, please see the previous article.
As you can see, age-related muscle wasting and bone loss doesn’t have to happen to you… Following the advice detailed above can go a long way toward maintaining healthy bones and muscle mass as you age.
The earlier you start, the better, but remember, you are never too old to start exercising. Research shows that, no matter your age, you stand to gain significant improvements in strength, range of motion, balance, bone density and mental clarity through exercise.
And, if you’re presently incapable of engaging in aerobic exercise, using Whole Body Vibration training may be just the thing to help you get more active… If you’re still on the fence about starting an exercise program, there’s no time like the present. I guarantee it will make a major difference in your energy level, self-esteem and probably your entire outlook on life. It is really THAT powerful, whether you’re 18 years old or 80!
As always, Body Focus Gym is here to help you. So come in, have a chat with one of our professionals and kick-start your health and fitness today. Stay Fit Stay! Stay healthy!
Siba Guzha is a fitness trainer at Body Focus Gym Executive. 1st Floor Meikles Mutare. Contact him on : Cell: 0772 789 110: Tel 020 64712 ext 218 or send feedback to Email: [email protected]
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