Skiing is a sport that many people love, but it’s also one with high risk. Seniors are especially susceptible to developing pain in the lower back or hip joint, which can make it difficult to continue enjoying the sport. If you’d like to avoid these common problems, here are 8 basic ski exercises that can help keep your body fit for skiing at all times.
A majority of people become interested in skiing as they age because it is a low-impact sport that is easy on the body and promotes cardiovascular health. This may be due to the fact that many people see skiing as a hobby for seniors, which can help them stay active and entice them to live longer.
However, skiing can be hard on the body once you get past the age of 50. This is because the sport requires you to bend your knees, which can put pressure on your lower back and cause it to be strained. Also, when going down a hill, many people skiers fall because they don’t have enough balance or momentum to carry them through hills.
Most of these problems that occur in skiing are due to a lack of flexibility and a weak core. Thus, if you incorporate home ski exercises into your daily routine, you can help relieve the pain that many seniors experience.
Overall, it’s important to remember that all skiers should exercise before hitting the slopes to prevent unnecessary pain. And for seniors who want to continue practicing their passion for skiing long into their golden years, here at 8 basic ski exercises for seniors.
Amazing Health Benefits of Skiing for Seniors
You may have already been enjoying the winter season, but if you’ve been injured or have never skied before, it can still be a good time for you to get out and enjoy the wilderness. The combination of fresh powder and cool temperatures has lots of Skiing health benefits. Here are some of them:
- Good for your bones: Skiers generally experience less bone loss than people who don’t ski. The reason why are the muscles and bones work to support each other during skiing, which can help delay bone loss and protect against osteoporotic diseases (including osteoarthritis and osteoporosis).
- Good for your back: Skiers who participate in weight training experience less back pain than people who don’t. Why? The reason could be because skiing appears to strengthen the back muscles, which keep it from moving or bending backward as much as normal. You may also be preserving bone mass as you age.
- Good for your heart: Alpine skiing is a good aerobic (cardiovascular) exercise, which involves the heart, lungs, and muscles. It also benefits the whole body because it pumps oxygenated blood to all areas of your body at a fast rate. You may find that you have stronger arms, good circulation, and strength in your arms, legs, and back. Skiing is also great for people with high blood pressure since it lowers stress hormones in the body.
The above article presents information about the significance of skiing for senior citizens. As you can see, it provides many advantages of this activity, especially for people with bone loss or back pain. You can try these exercises at home or in the gym to get the full benefits of skiing.
8 Basic Ski Fitness for Seniors
For many seniors, skiing is an enjoyable way to spend their retirement. But as we age our muscles have less ability to keep up with what we demand from them when skiing— they get sore more quickly and need time before they’re ready for another day of skiing. To help, here are a few of the most basic exercises for seniors who ski.
These exercises can be done at home or in a gym environment. Be sure to consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
Bodyweight Squats
This is an essential exercise for skiing, as it will strengthen your legs for athletic endeavors, including skiing.
Stand with your arms extended in front of you, parallel to the floor. Bend your knees to put your body weight on your heels. Make sure you are on your tippy-toes when you are doing this exercise, not on the balls of your feet. Now squat until you feel a burn at the bottom of the squat position, then stand back up again using only the strength in your legs.
Skater Hops
This is the same exercise as above, except you are moving your body weight back and forth to work on your leg strength.
You have to perform the bend on your knees. Then your upper body should move forward and backward, trying to rotate your torso to the right and left at the same time. Make sure you do not put too much weight on one leg. Focus more on the strength of your legs, rather than the strength of your upper body.
Russian Twist
This is one of the basic skiing exercises for seniors. It strengthens the obliques, abdominals, and lower back muscles.
Bend one knee, with your body weight supported mostly on that leg. Put both hands on your thigh with your palms facing up. Rotate your torso to the right by lifting it up and to the right until you feel a stretch in the left side of your abdomen or obliques, keeping all weight on that same leg throughout this movement. If you feel it is too difficult, you can also sit down while doing this exercise.
Jumping Lunges
This exercise is great for toning the gluteus maximus, quadriceps, and calves.
Stand straight with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Step one foot forward and bend both knees to lower yourself into a lunge position. Keep your torso upright and jump up while switching legs in midair and landing in a lunge position with the opposite leg forward. Switch legs again while using the upper body to generate momentum for the jump. Do this continuously to strengthen and tone the lower body muscles that help you ski well.
Plank
This is a great exercise for the lower back muscles responsible for the spine’s stability, as well as your core muscles, which define your body’s strength.
Get in a plank position with your core muscles tight. The position of your body should be comfortable and where you feel you can hold it for a while. Don’t use your hands to help get closer to the floor. Keep the body completely straight the whole time. Hold this position for at least 30 seconds and up to 1 minute if you’re in good shape and can do it without problems.
Back Extensions
The back extension is great for strengthening the back muscles.
To strengthen your upper back, start to lie on the floor, lift the head and shoulders off the floor to stretch your spine. Keep your arms straight throughout this process. Hold it for a few seconds and then return to the starting position and repeat the exercise 10 to 15 times.
Ski Jumps
This exercise strengthens the quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings, which are all important muscles for skiing. It also helps with balance and agility, which are also important for skiing moves like parallel turns and getting up on one ski (skiing backward).
In a parallel pivot on your skis, lift your knees up and together, while your hips remain on the skis. Then perform a ski jump by spreading your legs apart at the same time you jump up. This is one repetition.
Lying Pelvic Tilt
This is one of the most basic skiing exercises for seniors and is especially good for those who have lower back problems.
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, as close as possible to your hips. Tilt your pelvis forward without lifting it or moving your lower back. You should feel a stretch in the front part of your lower abdomen but keep your head and chest still by tightening those muscles.
These 8 basic ski exercises for seniors are very effective for toning your muscles and improving your flexibility. They increase agility and make you stronger, thus improving your skiing experience.
In addition, the best thing is that they can all be done in a simple living room or home without any help from a trainer or instructor, thus saving you the trouble of going to the gym or paying a fee to a private trainer. You can do these exercises on your own with minimal equipment and still get the benefits.
FAQs
What are the benefits of ski exercises?
Ski exercises keep joints and muscles strong and flexible. You can do these exercises on your own with no special equipment and at any age. They also help prevent injuries, improve strength, and improve balance.
Do I need any equipment to complete these exercises?
No equipment is necessary for any of the following exercises.
How many of these exercises should I do a day?
These exercises can be completed at any time throughout the day, however, ideally, two or three sets of each exercise would be sufficient.
How long should I exercise for?
Each exercise has a different duration and intensity so it is necessary to perform them in accordance with your fitness level and energy levels. Start with one set for 10-15 minutes and increase the duration and intensity as you become more comfortable with them over time.
Why is it important to do the exercises slowly?
These exercises are meant to restore natural movement to your body. When you move quickly, you are forcing yourself to move the way you think you should, not how your body actually wants to. This will lead to a lack of results and can even cause pain.
What should I do if these exercises cause pain?
If you feel pain, be sure you are doing the exercise correctly. If you feel pain on one side, try focusing more on the other side. If you know what is causing the pain, such as sitting in a chair all day or your chronic back spasms, then be sure to know if the exercise exacerbates that condition.