Try an Indoor Walking Workout for Seniors in Burlington, WI

Older adults in Burlington, WI, looking to engage in more low-impact senior fitness activities should consider indoor walking workout programs that include foundational and active walking routines. Exercises that mimic walking, marching, or doing jumping jacks while seated are also ideal options.

An indoor daily walking routine for older adults can be particularly beneficial during times of inclement weather in Burlington. As the online weather data resource Weather Spark points out, the city's summers are warm and wet, while its winters can be windy, even snowy and freezing.

To that end, the team at Arbor View, our retirement village in the beautiful, vibrant riverside town of Burlington, also fondly called the "Chocolate City," put together this guide. The memory care and assisted living wellness insights we've shared here can help area seniors learn more about indoor walking workouts. 

Do Indoor Walking Workouts Work?

Yes. Indoor walking workouts "work," as they offer accessible, practical wellness activities for seniors in Burlington, WI. They're also convenient, as older adults can do these activities at home without the need for fancy tools or equipment.

When seniors engage in regular walking exercises at home, they can enjoy various benefits, from better moods to improved heart health, as Verywell Health notes. Such fitness activities can even contribute to a reduced risk of chronic diseases.

Regular walking exercises, whether to stay active despite the summer heat or to increase indoor winter movement, can also help provide mobility support for aging adults. They can help improve bone, muscle, and joint health.

With healthier bones, muscles, and joints, seniors in Burlington, WI, can reduce their risk of falling.

Falls can happen to people of all ages. However, older adults are especially at risk, given all the age-related changes their bodies undergo. Indeed, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) says that around 14 million Americans 65 and older fall each year. 

Is It Better to Walk Faster or Longer?

Walking faster and walking farther (or for longer) are both beneficial. Both are better than slow walking or not walking at all. As a Yahoo article explains, walking farther boosts endurance, while walking faster helps condition the heart.

Seniors, whose energy levels naturally decrease with age, may have some issues doing both, though. Please always prioritize your safety by "listening" to your body whenever exercising. If walking faster or longer makes you breathless or dizzy, stop and take a break. 

What Exercises Can Seniors in Burlington, WI, Incorporate Into Their Indoor Walking Workout?

An ideal indoor walking workout program for Burlington seniors starts with a foundational routine, which consists of full-body movements. It begins with a short warm-up (five minutes will suffice), followed by active walking, and finally, a cool down.

For older adults with mobility, balance, or pain concerns, you can replace or split the active walking part with seated exercises.

Foundational Indoor Walking Routine Ideas

During the warm-up phase of a foundational indoor walking workout routine, seniors can march in place. It's a low-impact exercise in which you alternate arm and leg movements while remaining in the same spot.

Side steps with arm reaches can also be part of the warm-up. With this, you move your feet side to side (laterally) while extending your arms, such as by reaching overhead or swinging them.

After the initial warm-up, you can proceed to active walking for about 10 to 15 minutes. You can also increase movement by performing:

• Arm pumps or raises
• Heel touches
• Torso twists
• Heel-and-toe raises

Then, reduce your pace during the last five minutes. You can also take a seat and perform arm-and-shoulder stretches, which can help slow your heart rate while enhancing flexibility.

Walking-While-Seated Exercise Options

Seated marches are ideal for seniors who wish to move more but have mobility issues. It mimics a marching motion while sitting on a stable, sturdy chair with back support.

Seated jumping jacks are another. They imitate most of the actions of traditional jumping backs (raising and swinging the arms and extending the legs). However,  you do them while sitting and without jumping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Walking Reduce Belly Fat?

Walking, if done as a moderate aerobic exercise, can contribute to overall fat loss. However, seniors should not rely on it solely to "spot reduce" abdominal fat.

Reducing belly fat requires a more comprehensive approach that involves combining regular walking with other more vigorous activities and a healthy, nutritious diet. Portion control, which is managing the amount of food consumed in each sitting, plus limiting sugary and alcoholic drinks, can also help.

How Can Walking at Home Help Seniors in Burlington, WI, Lose Weight?

Done regularly and for sufficient amounts, indoor walking workouts, especially brisk or fast walking, can help older adults in Burlington, WI, lose weight because they burn calories and promote calorie deficits. They encourage gradual weight loss, making them a safer tool for weight management. 

Rapid weight loss isn't a good thing, especially not for seniors. It can make them lose even more muscle mass while also increasing fatigue.

Will Walking Workouts Help With Leg Health?

Walking exercises can contribute to better overall leg health and strength. However, seniors should treat these physical activities as just one crucial component of a broader health and wellness routine. They should also perform leg strengthening exercises, such as calf raises, heel raises, and leg extensions.

Prioritizing a healthy diet packed with nutrients that support healthy legs is also vital. Meals should contain adequate protein, calcium, vitamin D, and potassium for optimal muscle and bone health. Just as crucial are iron, C and B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids, which can help with circulation and nerve function. 

Give These Indoor Walking Workout Ideas a Try

From functional routines that include warm-ups, active walking, and cool-downs to seated marches/jumping jacks, all these are indoor walking workout activities seniors in Burlington, WI, should give a try. 

At Arbor View, we always encourage our older residents to stay active and fit by giving them a living environment conducive to graceful, healthy aging. From the spacious, comfy senior apartment homes where they can exercise anytime to our on-site wellness center and robust calendar of mental, social, and physical activities, we offer all these and more.

Reach out today to learn more and book a tour of our assisted living and memory care community in Burlington, WI!