Should this lockdown lock our senior citizen's health?

We have all heard that no physical activity in our lifestyle is unhealthy for our body. As young adults, we learn that being a couch potato can lead us to various health issues.

However bad this may sound, leading an inactive life as a senior citizen poses more health issues for those living in senior living communities. Although this lockdown phase has given us a lot of time to stay home, relax and spend time with our family doing nothing. However, this inactivity or "the sitting disease" is not a healthy option for our parents and grandparents.

For the elder community this lockdown can become an imitation to various problems like bone loss, muscle de-conditioning, getting prone to depression, increased risk of diabetes, and many more.

As we age, our body tends to reabsorb calcium and phosphate from our bones. This makes our bones weaker. This can further increase the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.

According to previous research, it has been proved that doing some sort of exercises daily helps us to stay happy, maintain light mood and prevent depression or stress.

Deconditioning is the major problem seen in inactive adults and bed-prone patients. Deconditioning phase is when our body starts losing the muscle mass can then lead to overall weakness in body. You may then get tired easily and even feel difficulty in performing tasks like bathing, dressing etc.

Other than all these, diabetes is a major problem through which majority of our senior community is already suffering from. The most effective way to control our blood glucose levels is exercising, but lockdown has taken this chance from us. If we all want to protect our parents, grandparents from such conditions, we have to perform some sort of exercises regularly at home.

• As warm up, on spot marching can be done. In this, you just need to march for one or two minutes (as much as you are comfortable) without changing the position.

• To maintain joint rhythm, try to make circles with your hand (wrist joint), arm (shoulder joint), foot (ankle joint) and leg (hip joint). Try to make as large circles as you can.

• For your back try to bend forward and touch your toes. You can do repetitions of this.

• Other than all these, a 10 to 20 minutes' walk at your home or room or dancing for sometime can be of benefit to you.

Caution: Immediately stop if you experience radiating pain, tingling or if you are a patient of COVID.

As our senior citizens are already being suffering from low metabolism weak immunity, weakness, fluctuating blood pressure, diabetes, stress, depression, joint pain and what not, this lockdown should not become a reason to aggravate their difficulties. Let us all stay strong and healthy even by just staying home and by taking care of ourselves and our parents.