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Senior Exercise

The right kind of muscular strength training is what we all need - especially senior citizens, to be able to maintain mobility and stay independent as long as possible. HUR allows older people to exercise more safely by reducing stress on joints and connective tissues. Using air as resistance overcomes the additional effort required to lift a static weight at the beginning of an exercise and to slow it down it at the end. HUR's air resistance equipment is safe and easy to use, which makes it suitable for everybody. 

Based on the American College of Sports Medicine recommendations for the 65 + population, HUR offers the best exercise solutions for older adults. The most effective way to implement an active ageing programme is a set of 10–12 HUR pieces for the strength training, a number or cardiovascular equipment, and a balance platform to measure and implement balance training. The HUR computerized exercise system, which offers more independent and efficient exercise and rehabilitation, becomes the physical activity plan. Read more about the ACSM recommendations and the HUR active ageing programme here.

Close to zero starting resistance, computerized exercise and rehabilitation, as well as automatic resistance increase by 100g/1/4 lbs., makes HUR the best choice for senior exercise.

Model Solutions

The scientific foundation of exercising for the ageing population is new but by now well established. The American College of Sports Medicine recommendations for the 65 + population are as follows:

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- 8–10 strengthening exercises, with 10–15 reps / exercise, 2–3 times per week
- Moderately intense aerobic exercise 30 minutes a day / 5 times per week or vigorously intense aerobic exercise 20 minutes a day / 3 times per week.
- If you are at risk of falling, perform balance exercises.
- Have a physical activity plan.

 

The most effective way to implement this is a set of 10–12 HUR pieces for the strength training, a number or cardiovascular equipment, and a balance platform to measure and implement balance training. The HUR computerized exercise system becomes the physical activity plan. 

This kind of setup is also the optimal one from an operational point of view. Thanks to the computerized system one instructor can usually manage the whole group of people. The computerized equipment sets up the proper resistance, counts the repetitions and informs the person when to finish and where to go next. This means that people with dementia or in memory care issues can participate with ease. With conventional equipment you need almost one instructor per person exercising. The system also automatically increases the loads as the person progress and gives a complete documentation or the exercises and progress.  Operationally the HUR computerized exercise system also becomes the backbone of the operations. Staff turnover becomes less of an issue as all the programming still remains in place and people are able to exercise independently.

     

In addition, of crucial importance is the Centre for disease Control study from 2006; 29% of the 60+ and 46% or the 80+ population can’t lift more than 5 kilograms/10 lbs (CDC Research 2006, Centers for Disease Control). These are exactly to people who are most likely to move to a retirement community, assisted living or a skilled nursing community. They are also the ones who might have a challenge to use conventional weight based equipment, as they may not be able to lift even the first weight plate. Therefore you need to start at almost zero load with minimal increments. On the HUR units you are able to even counterbalance the weight of the limb to start at a true zero load. From there onwards the loads increase with 100 gram/1/4 lbs. increments.

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However, although the 10–12 pcs set of equipment may be the optimal setup you may start with a few pieces and build it up. In this case the most crucial ones to start with is the legs and more specifically the quadriceps muscle group, to be able to get up from a chairs etc.

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