Benefits of Exercise for Women Over 40

You’re not in your early 20s anymore, and your body hasn’t been the same after your last pregnancy. You’re working 5 days a week while your weekends are spent looking after your children and getting them to their birthday parties and sporting events on time. You’re lucky if you can fit in 2 sessions of exercise in a week. Many of your sporting injuries from your twenties have even started catching up with you, causing you to feel sore and stiff after exercise.

If this sounds like you, it is important that you find a way to add regular exercise into your routine. You can begin doing this by joining one of our regular Pilates informed exercise classes. Add with this a physiotherapy-led session and some small workouts of 30 minutes per day, 5 times a week, to improve or maintain fitness levels and reap the benefits of exercise for women over 40.

Why is exercise important in your 40s?

We all know that the human body changes with age, and unless you exercise regularly, eat a balanced and nutritious diet and don’t smoke, your mid-40s is a critical time. If you don’t live a healthy lifestyle, you put yourself at risk of developing diabetes, obesity, heart problems, high blood pressure, stroke and even some forms of cancer.

There are some key changes during your 40s that you need to be aware of:

Bone strength

Hormonal changes can lead to a reduction in bone strength, potentially causing osteopenia and later on, osteoporosis. Resistance training can help improve your bone strength. Check out our Balance and Bones classes for more information.

Muscle mass

Muscle mass will begin to reduce as muscle cells shrink, causing an increase in fat deposits. Muscles can also lose elasticity and tone, which results in loss of muscle endurance and strength. Regular strength training can prevent the loss of muscle mass and help you maintain your strength. Come and see a Physiotherapist for an assessment and training guidelines.

Tendon injury

As you age, your connective tissues (especially those in your tendons) become susceptible to injury and can take longer to heal. If you find that your niggles are persisting for more than a few weeks, get them checked at Sports Focus. For those of you who have been inactive for a while, make sure you return to exercise gradually and begin with low-impact workouts, such as swimming and cycling.

If you’re ever unsure of where to begin with exercise, always consult your Sports Focus physiotherapist for the right fitness advice and preventative tips for you. Book online today and reap the benefits of exercise for women over 40.