The Japanese have always held their senior citizens in high regard, viewing them as an asset to society rather than a burden. This still holds true, and now exercise equipment is being placed in parks designed specifically for the use of these citizens, most of whom are well into their 70s. Rather than cardiovascular exercise, this new equipment focuses on keeping muscles strong and working on balance. As you age, your muscles waste naturally, and your balance deteriorates as the signals from your brain become muffled. The good news is the deterioration is not inevitable and muscles can be kept strong and balance improved by specific exercises.
New equipment in one park to the north of Tokyo has proved so popular that over a dozen elderly Japanese at a time make their way there even in freezing temperatures to exercise, socialise and have fun; where once the squeals of children playing were heard there are now peals of laughter from the senior citizens as they do press ups and balance on special equipment.
Life expectancy in Japan is high, with more and more people now living well into their 80s and 90s. Combined with falling birth rate, this is posing a social problem for the Japanese government as even in Japan it is more common in elderly people to live alone than with their families as in previous generations. This means there is a high demand for sheltered housing and nursing homes and this is where the idea of the elderly exercising comes into play, as healthy people are able to live independently for longer and are also much happier that way.
One of the major problems with getting older is becoming isolated, and these new senior play parks are also providing important socialisation opportunities for the users; in fact some local residents say laughingly that the oldies can actually become quite boisterous!
Local councils in Japan are delighted with popularity of these parks. An exercise instructor is on hand to demonstrate how to use the equipment, and then the seniors are left in peace to play, with the instructors commenting how quickly they catch on to ideas and how much easier they are to teach than many youngsters.
Other exercise related posts:
Put the Kettleworx Exercise System on
What on earth is a T-Bow?
