Seniors realize benefits of exercising healthy lifestyles

Sherry Long

Jun. 28, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- As physicians continue to tout the many health benefits of a balanced diet and exercise, more senior citizens are taking their message to heart to improve their quality of life.

Today's senior citizens are staying more active and leading healthier lifestyles to better enjoy their years following retirement. They are traveling, spending more quality time with family, and even working longer in an effort to remain physically fit, mentally sharp and "turn back the clock."

And exercise, analysts say, plays a key role.

Ellen Wengen is owner of seven Curves women's fitness centers in Northeast Pennsylvania. She opened her first one eight years ago in Clarks Summit after being intrigued with the 30-minute low-impact, strength training workout, on which the Curves program is based.

Strength training uses a person's own body weight as resistance instead of machine weights. Increasing a person's muscle strength can help protect them from osteoporosis, a disease which makes a person's bones more prone to fracture, Wengen said.

Walking and running are also good forms of strength training, said Dr. Aliasgar Chittalia, internal medicine physician at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre.

About 70 percent of Wengen's customers are age 55 years or older, she said, adding some are even in their 90s.

"I think our seniors are young seniors as compared to past generations," said Wengen, who is a registered nurse. "They know the value of exercise. They have more time and are more educated on the rationale for exercise. Once they do (exercise), they feel so much better. They know they have to keep it up."

The Framingham Heart Study shows people who maintain higher levels of physical fitness tend to live three years longer than people who are not physically active, regardless of age, sex or other health problems, Dr. Chittalia said.

According to the study, the more active a person was, the less likely they would suffer from heart problems.

For the last four years, Joan Angeli has worked with senior men and women, serving as senior adviser instructor of the Silver Sneakers Fitness Program at the Wilkes-Barre YMCA. Participants in the 45-minute workout program range between 65 to 85 years old. The group meets five times a week, with two sessions dedicated to water classes.

Silver Sneakers exercises are low-impact movements and are sometimes performed while sitting in chairs. The exercises are designed to help reduce muscle stiffness experienced by the participants so they can move more freely as they perform everyday activities with a little more ease, Angeli said.

Curves and the YMCA each offer free trials of their fitness programs.

YMCA SILVER SNEAKERS

--Pittston, 10 N. Main St., 655-2255

--Wilkes-Barre, 40 E. Northampton St., 823-2191

CURVES

--Kingston, 630 Market St.,

714-6464

--Shavertown, 161 S. Memorial Highway, 696-4321

Newstex ID: KRTB-0215-26307563