Exercise does the elderly body good

"Exercise can't stop the aging process, but experts at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston say that for the elderly, whether it's weight training, walking, swimming or biking, 30 minutes of exercise three to five times a week is a good prescription. Resistance weight training has been shown to be the best way to reduce the loss of lean muscle, said Dr. Robert Roush, an associate professor of medicine-geriatrics at BCM. Resistance training also increases cardiovascular fitness and it makes your bones stronger, too. Exercise can improve your overall health, reduce stress, help weight control, provide arthritis relief and help you get a better night's rest. If you are not already active, you should start slowly. Begin with exercises that you are already comfortable doing. Starting slowly makes it less likely that you will injure yourself. And one should always warm up, cool down, and stretch before and after any exercise routine. Once you start, watch for warning signs like dizziness, excessive shortness of breath or pain or pressure in the chest while exercising or shortly thereafter." - redOrbit