What Are the Benefits of Circuit Workouts for Seniors?

Circuit workouts are routines that combine several cardiovascular- and resistance-training exercises. Circuit workouts have many health benefits for senior citizens, including reducing symptoms of diseases such as diabetes and reducing the risk of falls.

Features

• Circuit workouts involve six to 15 different stations. After completing each station, you rest 30 to 90 seconds. Stations include cardiovascular exercises, such as jumping rope, and strength and resistance exercises, such as lifting weights or throwing a medicine ball. Circuit workouts are sometimes arranged in a circle, which gives the workouts their name.

Reducing Symptoms of Disease

• Circuit training that includes strength training helps reduce the symptoms of many diseases common in seniors, such as osteoporosis, diabetes, arthritis, obesity, depression and back pain.

Other Health Benefits

• Circuit training also increases bone density, reduces the risk of heart disease, increases balance, reduces the risk of falls, helps seniors maintain their weight, improves quality of sleep and raises self-confidence and self-esteem.

Warning

• Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program, especially if you have a chronic disease such as arthritis or diabetes.