May 29, 2024
WHY WOMEN IN THEIR 40s should CONTINUE TO EXERCISE Physio Cronulla
You’re not 20 anymore.
You’ve had kids and after your last pregnancy your body hasn’t been quite the same.
You’re back at work 4-5 days/week and your weekends are spent racing kids around to different sporting events and birthday parties.
You’re fortunate if you get in your 3 exercise sessions each week. Weeknights are full of kid’s homework, dinner and maybe sitting down for an hour to watch your favourite TV show, if you’re lucky!
If you’re like a lot of women in their 40s, you don’t feel as good in your body as you did in your 20s (most men in their 40s feel this way too!). Those sporting injuries from your younger years are catching up with you and you often feel a bit stiff and sore after you do exercise.
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOU?
Being a mother, you often have to prioritise, and the kids always end up coming first.
What gets thrown by the wayside?
Diet.
Exercise.
Sleep.
When you’re not eating well or exercising regularly and tired you can be snappy with the kids.
As a result, you end up carrying extra weight and don’t get that much needed stress relief you so need!
THERE MAY BE MANY REASONS FOR THIS. LIKE HAVING STRUCTURE AROUND DIET TO MANAGE A HEALTHY WEIGHT, HAVING STRUCTURE AROUND YOUR EXERCISE IS VITAL.
You could try:
- Signing up for a local Bootcamp.
- Attending regular Pilates or Yoga classes.
- Placing barriers around YOUR time for exercise (this is so important!)
SMALL WORKOUTS OF 30 MINUTES/DAY IS ALL YOU NEED. ENOUGH TO GET YOUR HEART RATE UP, YOUR BODY MOVING AND WORK UP A SWEAT.
Studies show that most men and women in their 40s are not meeting exercise recommendations of 30 minutes a day, five times a week.
WHY IS EXERCISING IN YOUR 40S AND BEYOND SO IMPORTANT?
From years of research we know that the human body changes with age, and new research is showing that unless we exercise regularly, eat a clean and balanced diet and stop smoking, the mid-40s is a critical time.
When we don’t prioritise our health we are at greater risk of a range of health conditions:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Problems
- Stroke
- Some forms of cancer
DURING YOUR 40S SOME KEY CHANGES INCLUDE:
BONES
Hormonal changes can cause reduced bone strength leading to osteopenia and eventually osteoporosis.
Tip: stay active with load-bearing exercise, including regular walking and strength-training. Resistance training is the key.
MUSCLES
Reduced muscle mass as muscle cells shrink, and increased fat deposits around the body. Muscles also lose tone and elasticity. The result? Loss of muscular strength and endurance.
Tip: Strength training. Start gradually and build up slowly, applying the key strength training principles: progression, overload and reversibility. (Build on your movements, increase the load and if you stop, your gains will be lost).
TENDONS
As you get older, your connective tissues, specifically your tendons are more susceptible to injury and take longer to repair.
Tip: If you have any niggles that persist beyond a few weeks it is vital that you get them checked out and treated. Pain related to tendinopathies in the shoulder, hip and foot can be persistent and debilitating. No pain, no gain does not apply!
If you have been inactive for a while, always start with low-impact activities first – swimming, cycling are great activities that get your heart rate up but won’t overload any weakened tissues.
If you’re a runner and dealing with a tendon-related issue, consult with your physiotherapist for how to adjust your running style or alter the loading progressions for your weekly runs. Simple changes to the structure of your ‘exercise week’ can go a long way to prevent injuries from occurring.
You need to think about how to structure your day and make the time, so it can benefit both YOU and YOUR FAMILY.
- Improve focus and attention – be more productive at work!
- Improve body composition – increased muscle mass and lower body fat!
- Improve energy levels – be more efficient at home/work and have more to give!
- Improve sleep – wake well rested and have more patience with the kids!
- Improve mental health – less feelings of depression and anxiety, less stress!
If you are ever unsure of where you should start, always consult with your Physio at Beachside for exercise advice and preventative tips.
Take care,
The team at Beachside Physiotherapy and Psychology.
