After 50 Exercise builds strength, balance - and confidence By Debi Boucher Stetson You probably know that exercise can help you lose weight and feel better. But what you may not realize is that regular exercise can counteract the effects of aging.
Exercise strengthens bones and revs up a slowing metabolism.
And, as a more immediate benefit, it can help prevent injuries, make everyday tasks easier and improve balance. Ellie Weis does an arm stretch during an exercise class at Thirwood Place, a residential retirement community in South Yarmouth. Cynthia May, office manager at the Orleans Council on Aging, says many people who participate in the fitness classes held at the senior center report that they are steadier on their feet and less afraid of falling. Many of the center's older clients, he notes, feel better knowing that if they fall, they can get up again. Many people come because their doctors prescribe it, which Coffey notes is a change from past decades.