Lots of aging Americans may want to get involved in a physical fitness program that will help turn back the clock on a variety of conditions associated with aging, but many may not be aware of what usually goes into getting seniors oriented in today’s fitness world.

There are a lot of good reasons for the elderly among us to seek out a fitness routine. First, physical activity strengthens joints, muscle and bone alike, protecting against the usual complaints of more sedentary seniors: range of motion issues, trouble walking, decrease in joint capacity, and much more, can all possibly be avoided or lessened with an aggressive fitness program that happens before those conditions reach a “critical mass”. After the body’s range of motion and capacity has already been depleted, it may not be possible to re-work joints and muscles into an optimal condition, and so “pre-emptive” physical fitness activity is the best solution.

So how do seniors make their way toward the gym? Well, often, a first step is a health screening. This provides individuals with the opinion of a qualified physician regarding just how much that person’s body can handle. Health screening are standard for many gyms and health clubs, including many YMCA locations, as part of entrance paperwork. A health screening may include vitals like pulse and blood pressure, as well as a variety of questionnaires aimed at identifying any current health problems that could get in the way of a workout.

Another common element in this process is a Fitness Assessment. This is not so much a screening, but rather, a way to measure the body’s current capacity. The Fitness Assessment can do this by contrasting the individual score on a battery of simple fitness tests with a national average. For example:

A “Sit and Reach” measurement is a common part of a Fitness Assessment to determine upper body flexibility. One study of several thousand seniors came up with the following for the 60-64 age group:

Sit and Reach (inches)

Women        -0.5 (25th percentile) – 5.0 (75th percentile)

Men        -2.5 (25th percentile) – 4.0 (75th percentile)

Using these kinds of averages, a Fitness Assessment will show seniors what they can do relative to the averages for their age groups. Other tests may include timed walking, arm curls, step up and down activities, and more to determine upper and lower body strength and flexibility. These tests are engineered to correspond to the exact skills elderly people need, to get up a flight up stairs, to step over a low barrier, or for all kinds of other everyday motions – and that is why so many seniors depend on these kinds of assessments to see how they can keep their range of motion and abilities in the years to come!

After the Fitness Assessment is done, seniors can get a personalized fitness plan from a personal trainer. For those who don’t want to hire a trainer on their own, many gyms offer a free session to help build a program as part of the entrance fee. Seniors who have passed through these processes are well on their way to working out for longevity and health later in life.