Exercise modifications for older adults by Gay Elliott

“The less you do, the worse you feel, and the less you get out of life,” states Michael Gordon, a physician and professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. Exercise—especially for the older adult—is more about quality of life, remaining independent and feeling better than it is about having a flat stomach or the abdominal ‘six pack.’

How, then, do we as practitioners conduct our group-exercise or personal training sessions to make each and every older adult feel included, successful and safe? How do we as program directors insure that we have matched the right trainer or instructor with the clients? Do we know the modifications to equipment that we can make? Have we adjusted the program itself to fit the older client?