General News
24 June, 2024
Fit, fun and social: how gyms benefit residents
Are you over 60 and looking for things to do? Some of your peers are saying it is the perfect time to get physical. The Department of Health and Aged Care recommends people aged 65 and older complete at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity...
Are you over 60 and looking for things to do? Some of your peers are saying it is the perfect time to get physical.
The Department of Health and Aged Care recommends people aged 65 and older complete at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day, and locals Margaret Harrison and Fiona Maffescioni say heading to the gym is the best way to stay active.
“I probably started around 12 or 13 years ago when I was 68 — my niece suggested that I should start doing some strength training,” Ms Harrison said.
“It has certainly improved my health, I know when I first started particularly in my left arm and my left leg I was struggling, but you really do feel the benefits of going and it has made me stronger.
“I do work in the garden and probably because I come to the gym I can go all day and not have the aches and pains a lot of people my age have.”
Ms Maffescioni, who attends gym classes twice a week to remain fit, said seeing fellow older adults in her classes continues to keep her motivated.
“I started going to the gym because of health reasons and then I had a knee reconstruction and that has been excellent and I work on that all the time so I canhave full mobility,” she said.
“When I first came to the gym there was a lady who was 90, and I figured if she could do it I could do it as well.
“It is much easier to exercise in a class than doing it yourself because you have that other person to encourage you as well — we have a good laugh, it is hard work at times but we get there.”
Ms Harrison and Ms Maffescioni have been going to Murph’s Gym for over a decade, and according to owner Earl Murphy, they aren’t the anomaly.
“I would honestly say probably 70 percent of my members would be over 60 and a lot of those clients have been training for 15 plus years,” he said.
“People will come in who haven’t trained before with sore backs, shoulders, knees, hips whatever it may be, and within a month all of those pains will go away.
“It’s almost like rehabilitation with older adults, it’s just getting their joints to do a full range of motion and obviously with exercise comes blood flow which is where oxygen and nutrients lie.
“Probably the thing I am most proud of is the social interactions they have, I will get people who are new to town or don't know a lot of people and six months later they are going out for coffee and going on day trips with their group members.”
Consistent physical activity for older adults can coincide with many wellbeing benefits including reduced risk of health issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease, reduced risk of falling, improved sleep and improved mental health.
Mr Murphy said there is always time for older adults to start giving the gym a chance.
“It is never too late to start going to the gym, a lot of people think that if they haven’t done anything their entire life that they can’t do it, but in a matter of six months you can completely change your life,” he said.
“I target my exercises to take those joints through their full range of motion whatever it is and even if people can’t, there is always something we can do to help.
“I have never had someone come in and I haven’t been able to help them and improve their physical wellbeing.”