Salinas, CA Seniors Need Exercise Programs Tailored To Their Medical Conditions

At Family inHome Caregiving, we always stress to our senior clients that eating right, getting plenty of social stimulation and exercise are keys to longevity.  A new report in The Wall Street Journal highlighted that, stating that many doctors are now prescribing a certain amount of physical activity and then doing follow-ups to make sure the patients are sticking to it.  This is critical as obesity can cause a number of health problems.  I wrote yesterday on my blog about the fact that 25% of seniors have diabetes.  Heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure are also side effects of obesity.  The so-called exercise counseling that doctors are doing involves telling patients that different diseases require different exercise protocols and sometimes doctors are referring them to personal trainers, physical therapists or nutritionists which can analyze their personal situation.  Doctors are looking at the "Exercise is Medicine" program which is overseen by the American College of Sports Medicine as a model to follow.  At a recent conference held at Harvard Medical School, participants were able to ride on stationary bikes while listening to the speakers.  Talk about practicing what you preach!