Regardless of age, it’s important to maintain an active lifestyle in order for our bodies to fend off illnesses and keep us in good health. However, for many older adults, it can be difficult to take part in sports as vigorous activities can pose a hazard and result in serious injuries. As such, this is why aquarobics are particularly popular among those who aren’t as physically mobile. Otherwise more commonly known as water aerobics, aquarobics are essentially aerobic activities that take place in water. Due to the lower impact levels, aquarobics are suitable for people living with circulation problems, arthritis, and joint and bone issues. Here are other benefits of aquarobic for older adults.
Get the Heart Rate Going
Despite aquarobic being a low impact sport, it is still capable of increasing the heart rate, which works out the heart muscles and improves circulation along the way. As the heart rate increases, this allows the body to transport oxygen and blood more efficiently and in a quicker manner, allowing you to burn more calories during your workout and lower cholesterol levels in the long run. In addition, an increased heart rate also helps prevent heart disease from occurring, which is especially prominent among older adults. Therefore, if you’re looking towards achieving better overall health, aquarobic is an effective option.
Improve Balance and Coordination
Aquarobic requires you to be in waist-deep water in order for your body to gain resistance training. As your body is exposed to the hydrostatic pressure of water, you’ll learn to build up your balance and coordination skills. Over time, you’ll find that your strength and physical control will be much enhanced, making you more confident in expanding your range of movement.
Lighter Pressure on the Joints
For people with joint problems, it can be challenging to take part in land sports, such as running and jogging, as these activities can put much pressure on the body. Since aquarobic takes place in water, it offers a safer and more supportive environment for you to move around as the impact of gravity is decreased. Whether you’re jogging on the spot or flutter kicking, aquarobic won’t put too much impact on your knees, hips, ankle, and back. Since you’re less likely to fall when taking part in aquarobic, this also means that the likelihood of injuries is also reduced. Therefore, you have lesser worries about suffering from fractures, broken bones, or muscle soreness, making aquarobic perfect for older adults.
Losing Weight
Contrary to popular belief, aquarobic is a full-body workout. Whether you’re lifting the legs or doing standing water push-ups, aquarobic is a cardio activity that has the potential to burn many calories. In fact, studies have shown that an hour of aquarobic can burn around 400 to 500 calories, which massively helps in weight loss. However, this shouldn’t be too surprising as water-based activities offer more resistance than their land counterparts, which means that your body has to exert more strength. Aside from losing weight, constant participation in aquarobic allows you to build up your metabolism over time.
