Everyone needs to be physically active. Why?
- It keeps your bones and muscles strong and healthy
- It improves your balance
- It helps you move easier
- It keeps your heart and lungs healthy
- It increases your energy
- It helps you sleep
- It improves your confidence when walking
At any age, your body can get stronger with activity. It is never too late to start.
- Do at least 150 minutes of activity every week if you are over 18 years old. These activities should make you sweat a little and breathe a little harder. You can break this into 10-minute periods. If you are just getting active, start slowly, and add a few minutes each day.
- Being active will help you with your daily living tasks like getting up from a chair or into a car. Activities should strengthen both your arm and leg muscles. Arm strength is needed just as much as leg strength for daily tasks.
- If it is hard to get started, find a buddy to encourage you, make a plan or try something new to keep it interesting.
Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting a new physical activity. Examples of physical activity include:
- Strength and balance activities such as Tai chi, stair climbing, exercising with weights or exercise bands, and doing wall push ups
- Endurance (heart) activities such as walking, dancing, gardening, and swimming
- Flexibility activities such as Tai chi, yoga and stretching.
Content provided by Alberta Health Services, myhealth.alberta.ca
