Conrad van der Merwe

Biokineticist specialising in fitness for mature bodies.

Conrad hails from Kimberley and qualified as biokineticist at the University of Stellenbosch. He opened his practice in Kanonberg, Durbanville in 2003 and also spends time at our Clara Anna Fontein Lifestyle Estate.

Only one out of four people over the age of 65 exercise regularly, as many assume that they’re too out-of-shape, sick, tired or just plain too “mature” to exercise. 

Exercise is almost always good for people of any age and can help make you stronger, prevent bone loss, improve balance and co-ordination, lift your mood, boost your memory and ease the symptoms of many chronic conditions.

We look at 5 myths about exercising as you age, along with some expert advice from Conrad Van der Merwe, to get you moving.

MYTH NUMBER ONE

Trying to exercise and get healthy is pointless: decline in physical condition is inevitable.

Although decline in physical condition is indeed inevitable, regular exercise has been proven through many studies to slow down the process dramatically. This is relevant for cardiovascular capacity and especially for muscle strength.

MYTH NUMBER TWO

Exercise isn’t safe as one gets older

As we get older there is definitely certain changes we have to make to our exercise programs due to factors like slowly decreasing muscle strength, more vulnerable joints and so forth.  More regular, lower intensity- and lower impact work outs can be done very safely without risk of orthopaedic injuries or cardiovascular incidents.

If you do feel slightly worried about potential health risks while exercising, it is advisable to exercise under the supervision of a trained professional.

MYTH NUMBER THREE

I never really exercised before – it’s too late to make a difference in my health.

The benefits of exercise apply to all. You might take a bit longer to master the right techniques and you will have to build up your intensity very gradually, but in a short time span, you will experience the same benefits as those who have been training for years.

MYTH NUMBER FOUR

Exercise will hurt my joints.

It will only hurt you when you use the wrong technique or if you overload your joints with weights that are too heavy. If you already have certain orthopaedic problems in certain joints, these joints might need rehabilitation before starting with load bearing exercises involving the specific joint.

There are also certain conditions like arthritis that might make certain exercises less suitable, but if you are a healthy individual, there should be no reason why you should have an increased risk for joint injuries while training.

MYTH NUMBER FIVE

I have a chronic illness, so I shouldn’t exercise.

Studies have shown repeatedly that a lot of chronic diseases like hypertension show a very positive reaction to exercise programs that is suitable for the specific condition. It is very important to consult a doctor before you start training if you suffer from a chronic disease as your physician will need to give you clearance to exercise.

It is also strongly recommended that you consult a health professional like a Biokineticist or physiotherapist to prescribe the correct and applicable exercise regime for a specific chronic disease.