July 2, 2021

by Maria Tan, BScOT, MSc. Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art that combines concentration, breathing, and patterns of smooth movements of the whole body. Some people describe it as moving meditation. There are many styles of Tai Chi, but they all share certain basic moves. Within each style you can learn different patterns of moves, called forms. These forms can take as little as 5 minutes and a...

June 26, 2021

By: Hilary Dunn, MSc As we age, our risk for developing diseases like diabetes and cancer can increase, so prevention becomes even more important. Eating well can help to lower our risk. But how do we know if we’re eating the right foods and getting enough of the right nutrients? Professor Heather Keller is Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition & Aging at the University of Waterloo. She...

June 26, 2021

By Anita M. Myers, PhD, University of Waterloo You have the right to expect safe and beneficial programs that are tailored to your needs, abilities and goals. This is true whether you join a commercial fitness club, a program at your local "Y," or one at a seniors recreation centre. You have the right to good programs whether you pay directly through fees, or indirectly through your taxes. You...

June 19, 2021

Arthritis is one of the most common chronic health problems in Canada. There are many different forms of arthritis. It can affect the joints, ligaments, bones, and other parts of the musculoskeletal system. About 4 million Canadians have some form of arthritis, with numbers expected to double by 2020. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms. With osteoarthritis, the shock-absorbing, smo...

June 19, 2021

by John C. Griffin, MSc. Have you ever had trouble getting in or out of a car? Are recreational activities that involve agility or balance getting harder? Do you find that carrying groceries is becoming more of a challenge? These are some tasks that require functional mobility -- the ability to efficiently perform the necessary activities of daily life without undue fatigue or pain. With go...

June 12, 2021

The 72% Did you know that women make up 72% of Canadians living with Alzheimer’s disease? They are our mothers, wives, sisters, grandmothers, friends – even us. Women live longer than men and age is a big risk factor. That’s why there are more women living with Alzheimer’s disease than men. Women also account for 70% of family caregivers. Caregiving takes a tremendous toll on women, many o...

June 12, 2021

Here is a list of the top 10 barriers for older adults, as reported by The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute: Not enough energy Lack of motivation Illness or injury Fear of injury Lack of skill Not enough time Ill at ease Lack of facilities Cost Lack of safe places Many of us feel that we are too tired to be active. But once they get started,...

June 7, 2021

Anyone can fall, but the risk of falling becomes greater with age. Health Canada reports that every year, one in three Canadian seniors will fall at least once. Nearly half of those falls will occur in the home — most often in the bathroom or on the stairs. Factors that can increase your risk of falling include: poor balance decreased muscle and bone strength reduced vision or hearing u...

June 7, 2021

Gareth R. Jones, PhD, CSEP-CEP "Remember: Age does not prevent you from getting fitter. Aerobic exercise is one of the main ways you can keep yourself independent and enjoy a better quality of life. Research tells us that physical activity is good for all older people. Aerobic exercise is especially good. It helps older adults to maintain physical independence, despite the effects of chronic ...

May 31, 2021

There aren’t many things that could be a good mix for cancer patients and cancer survivors. But believe it or not, physical activity is good for you, while you are in treatment or as a survivor. Surviving cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation treatment and chemotherapy can leave an older adult feeling exhausted both physically and mentally. Cancer patients can also experience a decrea...