Everyone knows that exercise is beneficial for all ages, including seniors.
As a youth I was only moderately active, but about the time of the Royal Canadian Air Force Exercise Book, I vigorously embraced our northern neighbor’s physical fitness ethos by doing the prescribed movements. After I suffered a degenerated lower disk in 1972, the legendary Dr. Paul Williams prescribed back exercises which I followed regularly for several years. Five or six subsequent orthopedists since suggested variations, but the routine continued.
Dr, Williams did not like the stress on the joints resulting from running. so to appease me he suggested jogging in place with hands on the back of a lower chair or on a table while rapidly moving the legs backwards and forwards. This style of jogging from ten to 30 minutes in hotel rooms at night did not create contented neighbors, especially on the floor below. After maybe two years of this, I became seriously interested in swimming, and after much practice, a goal of one mile per 50 minutes was reached. Since walking was and is a popular physical activity, I did a lot of it also. This new zeal prevailed until about 2004, when physical symptoms required a change of routine.
Currently the exercise consists of muscle movements, weight lifting and water therapy.
Almost everyone probably wonders whether all of this activity is worth the time invested. I take comfort from a fitness fanatic who remarked: “At least you know you will die healthy.”
