The National Institutes of Health recommend functional fitness exercises that support four fitness goals for seniors: endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. Many exercises and activities can address all four goals at once. Plus, most exercises work together to reinforce each other’s benefits. Think about it this way, with increased endurance you can exercise more and build greater strength, flexibility, and improve your balance.

Research shows that with regular exercise, many of the physiological changes related to aging can be prevented and postponed. The following four types of effective functional fitness exercises for seniors are simple, safe, and can be done almost anywhere.

(If you’re just starting an exercise program or have physical limitations, check with your doctor to make sure these exercises are right and safe for you.)

ENDURANCE EXERCISES

These exercises focus on working the cardiovascular system. They can improve circulation and help lower blood pressure and heart rate. Because they help improve your ability to walk farther, faster, and longer, they can even make everyday activities like shopping and housework easier and more enjoyable!

Try This Endurance Exercise: Walking

Walking is a wonderful form of exercise for everyone–young, old, and anyone in between. It offers all four types of functional fitness goals and can be adapted to any level. Plus, it strengthens major muscle groups while improving endurance, balance, and flexibility. One key benefit is that you don’t need much equipment, just find some comfortable shoes you enjoy wearing; then head out your front door. 

A walk in nature is not only good for the body but good for the soul, as well. Walking with a friend or family member can turn mundane exercise into a rewarding social event. If you’re not already a regular walker, or if you're rehabilitating an injury or have other physical limitations, be sure to start slowly. Even 10 minutes of normal-paced walking per day can be effective. Build up speed and duration as your body allows.

Other endurance-building exercises include swimming, jogging, yard work, tennis, and pickleball.

STRENGTH EXERCISES

Feel the power of strengthening and toning your muscles with strength exercises. Known as resistance training, this method includes weight-lifting activities that gradually challenge your body to become stronger. Get fit using traditional weights, machines, and bands–or a combination for extra intensity. Building your strength means not only building and toning muscle, but being able to carry groceries, do household chores, and lift grandchildren with greater ease.

Try This Strength Exercise: Wall Push-Ups

Wall push-ups can help improve upper body strength, especially in your arms and chest, without the intense exertion of traditional floor push-ups. Stand slightly less than arm’s length from the wall, close enough to place your palms flat on the wall. Keeping your body straight, bend your elbows and lean forward toward the wall. Then press away from the wall to your starting position. The closer you are to the wall, the easier the exercise will be. Start close and slowly work yourself farther away as you build up strength and stamina.

BALANCE EXERCISES

Improving balance helps provide stability in all your daily activities. To help prevent falls, incorporate exercises that improve balance into your daily routine. Start by attempting to stand on one leg with open eyes; when you feel confident in doing so, give it another go while shutting your eyes (be sure to have support, such as a wall or table nearby–this is trickier to do than it sounds). There are also handy tools available like fitness mats and special devices designed specifically for helping you improve your balance.

Try This Balance Exercise: Sit to Stand

Also called a chair squat, this exercise is simple and easy to do. You can do it every time you sit down, whether to eat, play cards, watch TV, or engage in any other seated activity. Begin by standing in front of your chair, and then sit as you normally would–but before you touch the chair or transfer weight to it, stand up again. Repeat several times.

FLEXIBILITY EXERCISES

Flexibility exercises stretch muscles and help make them more responsive and limber. They improve ease of movement in all your activities, including reaching for items, dressing, and getting in and out of cars. Combine stretching exercises with strength exercises to help you achieve balanced muscle function. Good activities to try for greater flexibility include yoga and Pilates. There are also many good books and resources on the internet that demonstrate simple stretching exercises you can do without a class or special equipment.

Try This Flexibility Exercise: Climbing Stairs

This one is really good for maintaining flexibility in the hip and knee joints, strengthening your legs, and even building or maintaining cardiac endurance. For most of us, stairs are pretty available and convenient to use. But if that’s not the case for you, take the stairs instead of the elevator the next time you visit the doctor, a friend, or the mall.

As we age, the goal of exercise is to increase or maintain our good health and well-being. We call this “functional fitness"–remaining active while building strength, balance, and cardiovascular health. If you’d like to know more about how seniors can achieve functional fitness, read more about it in our blog here.