UAB Researcher: Healthy Ways For Seniors to Exercise Their Options

By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson The Birmingham Times Thomas Buford, Ph.D., researcher with the UAB Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, can’t be more direct: “There’s no intervention to my knowledge that has as many different and consistent beneficial effects on overall health as exercise. For older adults in particular, it has a tremendous impact on health and quality of life.” With the start of a new year Buford said it may be time for a fresh take for how older adults incorporate exercise into their lives. Rather than “doing” more stretches and “putting” in more work on the machines, daily, healthy living and consistent activity should be the overarching goal, he said. “In the U.S. we talk about (how) I had a great workout, or I really exercised hard,” he said. “Whereas in Europe, it’s more built into the lifestyle, so if you went out and were really active throughout the day, you would say ‘I had a great day.’ It’s integrated as part of your life and not this thing you have to add onto life.” And rather than feeling pressure to run a marathon right now, Buford advises you “start slow and build up as you can.” And...