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More opportunities than ever for seniors looking for exercise

RICK ADAMCZAK
Special to the Legal News

Published: July 20, 2017

Baby boomers ushered in the fitness craze four decades ago - heck, Nike was started by boomer Phil Knight and fellow boomers Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons helped spark workout video popularity - so it's not surprising that staying physically active is a priority for retirees these days.

And there is no shortage of options for the athletically inclined seniors.

Golf has certainly long been a primary post-work life sport of choice for many generations - and it still is - and for those snowbirds in Florida, pickleball has long been a popular pastime, one that's now growing across the entire nation.

But nowadays the retirement set has greatly expanded its choices for staying physically active - everything from yoga and pilates to baseball and hockey.

The Central Ohio Senior Softball Association has softball leagues for ages 60 and older, 65 and older, 70 and older and 75 and older. Nearly 500 players participate in the leagues.

The city of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department operates basketball and softball leagues for players age 50 and older.

Most municipal recreation departments and senior centers offer a wide variety of athletic opportunities for retirees, from ping pong and line dancing to aerobics and fitness walking classes.

For example, the city of Worthington's senior center, the Griswold Center, has a fitness center with a variety of cardiovascular equipment and strength building equipment.

It also offers a number of activities through the nationwide SilverSneakers Fitness program.

There's even a National Senior Games Association, an Olympics-type program for senior citizens.

And while there are more opportunities than ever now for seniors to play the sports of their youth, many prefer not to, or are physically unable to play those sports any more.

But that doesn't mean they should take up a sedentary sloth-like lifestyle.

Many seniors opt for lower-impact exercise, such as aquafit classes at swimming pools, yoga, dancing, badminton, lawn bowling or simply walking. Today there more places to take advantage of those activities than ever before.

It's one of the reasons for the growing popularity of pickleball, a tennis-like sport that mandates physical activity without the need to be overly strenuous.

The number of places to play pickleball has grown by nearly 400 percent in the last decade.

Experts say staying active into one's Golden Years is important for maintaining good physical health.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, regular exercise prevents chronic disease, improves mood and lowers the chances of injury.

And now studies are showing that people who are physically active also have lower rates of Alzheimer's and other age-associated neurodegenerative disorders, according to AARP.

It's only appropriate that baby boomers are trying to stay on the move in their Golden Years since they moved exercise and fitness into the mainstream.

In 1968, less than 24 percent of American adults exercised regularly; by 1984, that figure had risen to 59 percent, according to AARP.

In 1968 there were approximately 100,000 joggers in the country. Less than a decade later there were 27 million.

But life changes and many people slow down as they age.

The boomers are no different.

So, despite the increased options for staying active and the benefits staying active provide, many boomers have not kept up their fitness - only about one-third of boomers exercise these days, according to AARP.

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