An essential ingredient in a successful retirement is good health. However, I am not proposing to take over as your medical advisor, after all I am a vet not a doctor! Although there is value in remembering that we are basically animals (see my other blog: avetsview.co). All I want to do is point out some aspects of health which I think are especially important for older citizens, and suggest how they could be maintained. Some of these suggestions have been mentioned before in other blogs, but they are still valid.
Maintaining one’s strength is important for living a long life. So it is important to perform regular strengthening exercises. These are necessary for the legs, back and upper body. But this does not mean having to join a gym and buy a lycra bodysuit. The legs are strengthened by regular walking, fast if possible, and including some hills. I also go to a local pool a few times a week and walk in the water (not ON, unless you have achieved divine status!), both forwards and backwards and also sideways. Swimming does little for the strength of the legs. Strong legs will help keep you upright, and strong leg muscles are important in returning blood to the heart.
The strength of the arms and shoulders can be maintained by exercising with hand weights – starting with small weights and progressing to, say, 3 kilos. Maintain good flexion in the back muscles and an upright posture by doing the Down Dog and Cat exercises from the Yoga repertoire (If you are not familiar with them borrow a Yoga book from your local library). It is also important to exercise the neck muscles and ensure your neck joints are free, so that you can turn your head easily. As you will know, being able to look backwards when driving out onto a road or at a junction, is essential for your safety.
There is another aspect of health which came to my attention recently. The ability to maintain our balance tends to decrease as one ages. Apparently, this is managed by the brain and unless the reflex pathways are not strengthened regularly, they deteriorate. Too much sitting doesn’t help. The answer is to check and strengthen these reflexes by walking along a straight line with one foot following immediately in front of the other. Also walk sideways along a line, with one foot crossing over the other. If, for various reasons, you are already at risk from falling when you walk, the best way to keep safe is to invest in a pair of walking poles, such as you might use when walking in rough country. Then you will have 4 ‘legs’, not just 2. 4-legged animals such as sheep or cattle are more stable than we bipeds. More next time!
Renaissance not Retirement 