Can the elderly’s fitness be stimulated with new vitality?

The answer is yes. The new vitality of elderly fitness can not only be described as "stimulation", but it is also a practical path that has been implemented in many community elderly health services.

Of course, controversy has always existed. Many colleagues in the industry feel that the word "inspire" has too strong an active driving attribute. The physical function of the elderly has deteriorated and the risks of exercise are high. Many people themselves are resistant to exercise. Mentioning "inspire" can easily evolve into task-based assignments, and instead do bad things with good intentions. I have indeed heard before that in order to increase the participation rate of elderly fitness activities, neighboring streets forced the elderly to rehearse and perform. In the end, some elderly people twisted their waists and refused to do any fitness activities for half a year. This is indeed a lesson from the past.

I have been doing community fitness promotion for the elderly for four years, and I feel that what everyone is struggling with is never whether the word "stimulate" is accurate, but whether we provide services from the perspective of managers and push the elderly to move, or from the perspective of the elderly to help them dig out the vitality that has been hidden for a long time. Last year, I was particularly impressed by Uncle Li from our community. He was 72 years old. He had a stroke before and his left limbs were not good. He would not go out except to go to the hospital for check-ups. When his children asked him to move more, he lost his temper and said that he was half disabled. Later, when we investigated the situation, we found out that he was a seed table tennis player in his unit when he was young, so we specially found a retired physical education teacher and modified a sitting table tennis game for him. He did not need to get up to run or jump, but only moved his arms and wrists. His eyes lit up when he tried playing for the first time. He held the racket and tried for more than half an hour without stopping. Now he regularly comes to the activity room to play three times a week. Not only has his arm strength recovered a lot, but he has also taken the initiative to act as a promoter for the group, dragging old friends who are in a similar situation with him. What do you mean, this is not about stimulating energy?

In fact, fitness for the elderly is both difficult and simple. It is like simmering a long-standing soup. It cannot be boiled over high heat. It must be simmered slowly over a warm fire. It must be based on the preferences of the elderly. If you like to listen to opera, you can change the background music of the aerobics to the tune of Henan Opera or Huangmei Opera, and the movements will be slow and slow according to the rhythm. ； If you love taking care of your grandchildren, you can play fitness games that involve grandparents and grandchildren, which allows you to take care of your children and exercise at the same time. ； If you are usually afraid of injury, start with finger exercises and ankle pump exercises, which are zero-threshold movements that can be done while sitting on the sofa. Once everyone has tasted the benefits and is willing to take the initiative, the energy will come out naturally without you having to force them.

Of course, we have to admit that "stimulation" is not a universal formula. For the elderly with serious underlying diseases and clear exercise contraindications, we will not forcefully advise them. Everything must be followed the doctor's advice, and the appropriate one is the best. The longer I work in this industry, the more I realize that don’t be framed by the stereotype that “elderly people should live in peace and quiet”. As long as we find the right way, the hidden spirit of the elderly can really shine.