Like it or not everybody ages. And in aging bones get brittle, muscle sags, strength diminishes. But this may be slowed down through exercise, although at a different style for seniors. In the ideal exercise environment for the aging health buffs, the gym flooring should be more fall-tolerant, and the home exercise equipment oriented towards less strenuous exercises. Many shops sell home fitness equipment for seniors so there is no dearth of supply. The problem remains to be simply what does a senior citizen needs in equipment because they have special requirements. Some may be:

Less strength machines: Joints with less cartilage lining or even arthritic can hardly handle regular-strength machines, which are more suited to younger people. These machines can cause strain, soreness, and even injury to brittle bones and strained ligaments. Equipment more appropriate for these elders are hydraulic- or pneumatic-driven ones, where the resistance to movement may be controlled, i.e., lowered or raised to suit particular needs or exercise levels. This method also avoids the so-called exercise plateau, when the strength of resistance of a machine has been reached. In this way, exercising with a machine need not be stopped because one has mastered its dynamism.

Soft-step and cushioned machines: Seniors not only have more sensitive feelings but also feet, backsides, and rumps. Machines with cushions help greatly in easing the tender parts of older machinery as well as reducing the effect of cold metal on the skin. No-climb or equipment that involves little climbing are also preferable, unless it is actually a climbing machine. In such a case, the rungs should be spaced rather more narrowly than regular.

Variety: For people who have seen much in their lives, too many repetitive movements hold no appeal and bore them easily. Varying the movements while retaining the exercise regimen helps maintain the interest of the seniors to continue with the system. In other words, to develop the biceps it cannot just lifting weights all the time. There got to be other ways.

Misery loves company, but so does exercising. Friendship and camaraderie are even more important in seniors than in other age groups, especially for women. While this cannot be built-in in a machine, it can for a gym. Two or more machines of the same kind can encourage seniors to work out with the equipment more often and with others.

Less crowded areas: Seniors have no wish to display neither the Chianti bottle body nor the jelly triceps, or perhaps they will feel too envious of the younger bodies. They can also little tolerate the noise of the younger generation that pass for music to them and prefer music of more serenity. Thus equipment for home use are preferable for seniors. Home is where conditions can be controlled more easily and effectively.

Except that, when none can be availed, there is always aerobics and even Tai Chi Chuan. The exercises are simple, there is company and the music is slow enough. And, no fitness equipment is needed.

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