Staying active as you age helps you remain healthy, live longer, and feel better.

More older people than ever before are involved in exercise and sports. They have learned that being physically fit does not have to mean aching muscles from workouts and hard-to-maintain exercise schedules. Many people are getting their exercise in active pastimes such as biking, skiing, and tennis. Others prefer less active recreation, such as walking, gardening or golf.

All are finding relaxation and fun while they secure a healthy future. Exercise helps you feel better because it improves your health. Orthopaedic surgeons say that by spending a little time each day in some type of physical activity, you can enjoy these significant benefits:

• Longer, healthier life
• Stronger bones
• Reduced joint and muscle pain
• Improved mobility and balance
• Lower risk of falls and serious injuries like hip fractures
• Slower loss of muscle mass

People are living longer these days and their quality of life depends on being healthy and remaining independent. Staying active can lower your risk for many common diseases, relieve the pain of arthritis, and help you to recover faster when you do get sick.

While it is important to stay active, it is also important to play it safe. As more older people engage in physical activities, sports-related injuries are increasing. This is especially true for those who ride bicycles, ski, lift weights, and use exercise machines.

According to a recent study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 6 million people 65 years of age and older were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries in 2006. Additional injuries were treated in physicians' offices.

Many sports-related injuries can be prevented. Learn more about exercising safely in the article Safe ExerciseSafe Exercise (topic.cfm?topic=A00418).