Resolved to be more active in 2021 but asking if it’ s safe for you to exercise?
Vol.1, Issue 1, February 2021
You can start to exercise at any age. But if you have never exercised, or had to stop for some reason, you may be asking, “What is the safest way to get started?”
Health problems do not have to stop you from being active. You can adapt your exercise routine for any health issue you have and for your abilities. In fact, regular exercise can help to manage many conditions. It can help maintain or improve your function.
If you are generally healthy, you can begin light-to-moderate activities on your own.1 If any of the following apply to you, talk to your health care provider before starting:
- You have not exercised in a long time AND plan to start doing strenuous physical activities.
- Have any significant health concerns.
- You are still recovering from a recent surgery.
Still not sure or have questions?
Complete the easy-to-use Get Active Questionnaire from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. The questionnaire is a screening tool to help people of all ages move along the path to becoming more physically active. It helps you decide if you should seek further advice from a health care provider or exercise professional before becoming more physically active.
Liza Stathokostas, PhD
Research Director
Active Aging Canada
1Riebe et al., Updating ACSM’s Recommendations for Exercise Preparticipation Health Screening. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 47, No. 8, pp. 2473–2479, 2015.
