Figure Skating Benefits

As people get older many of them begin to get more inactive. Older peoples’ health risk increases when they stop participating in physical activities. When people get older their bone tissue is reduced, which consequently influences bones to become weaker, and commonly leading to osteoporosis. “The social aspects of sport has been confirmed by the other researchers that social engagement was the key ingredient enticing many participate in sport” (Berlin, Klenosky, 2014). Older people participate in sports to relieve stress, to have fun and to play games with improved health and fitness as an additional benefit of the activity. Older adults can live healthy and long life by involving themselves into sports which helps them to loosen their muscles

and reduce stiffness through physical activities (Marques, Mota, Carvalho, 2012). “Sports-based participants, view the leisure choice as a means of relieving stress, having fun and playing games, with improved health and fitness an additional benefit of the activity” (Berlin, Klenosky, 2014). “The ladder showed that participants enjoyed being with people because it gave them someone to do things with, feel emotionally better and kept them from being alone and depressed” (Berlin, Klenosky, 2014). There are many sports in which older people can participate to get involved in physical activities such as playing golf, swimming, figure skating and cycling.
First of all, older adults are calm compared to younger adults and most of the older people preferred to play a sport which resonates their mood and helps them to relax. Playing golf gives an opportunity to the older people to go outside in an open area where they get to meet other people and with whom they can communicate. While playing golf older people can talk to their friends, also it is a more focused technique game rather than physical ability. Golf is a one exercise-base sport for older adults, which allows them to move their body and they get to walk while they are enjoying their selected sport activity (Berlin, Klenosky, 2014). Older adults get a good workout for their heart and lungs. It also improves the blood circulation, improves the strength for knees which reduces the risk for knee problems and keeps older adults muscles flexible. For golfers, outdoor is very important for them because they get the opportunity to see the nature, they experience many different golf courses, and it is a quiet, relaxing atmosphere where they can play and relieve all the stress (Berlin, Klenosky, 2014). “Golfers choose the activity based on its social and fun attributes, it appears that the experience of being outdoors is also related to enjoyment versus exercise” (Berlin, Klenosky, 2014). The reason for older adults to play sports outside is to provide them energy, happiness and they prefer to be outside rather than sitting home where it is boring and inactive for them (Berlin, Klenosky, 2014).
Secondly, “physical activity, lifestyle is one factor that has been shown to reduce the risk, delay the onset, or lessen the severity of many of the side effects of aging” (Phillips, Wójcicki, Mcauley, 2013). Swimming considered as a best exercise for older adults. Older adults can participate in swimming as it provides a great workout for the whole body. Physical activity helps older people to maintain and improve their health-related quality life (Phillips, Wójcicki, Mcauley, 2013). Older adults get the enjoyment of water, helps them to gain their lose muscle mass, and stress-free. Swimming is a benefit of a low impact exercise for older adults (Berlin, Klenosky, 2014). Swimming helps older adults to improve their balance and lowers the risk to get injured. As people get older they can easily put strain on their muscles or joints, swimming lowers the risk for putting any kind of strain on muscles and joints. However, older adults can participate in group swimming with other adults from their own age group, which whom they can enjoy their activity and it will help them to reduce chronic illness. Older adults can swim without injuring themselves. Swimming also provides independence and good quality of life to older adults (Berlin, Klenosky, 2014). All older adults that participate in the sports they value the activity which helps them to live as an independent and experience quality of life. Swimming helps older adults to relive stress, to have fun and enjoy with other groups from their own age, it improves their health and fitness (Berlin, Klenosky, 2014).
Thirdly, figure skating provides health benefits but the older adults need to be careful as they enjoy their sport.

Figure skating helps older adults to strengthen their lower leg muscles which includes hip adductors and abductors, calves and ankles. Figure skating helps older adults to improve their balance and helps maintain proper alignment of the upper body (McKay, 2014). “Many older adults are donning skates, spandex and sequins and going after golds of their own” (McKay, 2014). Older adults are very careful with their jumps and spins in figure skating and which are easy for them to do at their age compared to young adults. Older adults can fracture their bones or disturb their muscles easily when they jump or spin while skating. Figure skating is a great sport, it helps older adults to clear their mind and it is a good way to get exercise while they are enjoying their skating with a partner (McKay, 2014). Figure skating gives opportunities to older adults to meet with new partners, and they sometimes get involved in a relationship especially who are single, divorced or widowed. Figure skating is not easy for older adults as they can injure themselves if they fell on ice, so the older adults who like figure skating or participate in figure skating sport they spend their money to get training for figure skating. There are many older adults who are passionate about figure skating and they skate like young adults. When people get older they enjoy figure skating because it brings a good memory to them from their young adulthood. "It's nice to skate as an adult because you make the decisions," says Ms. Panzer. "It's your money, your time, it's not your parent telling you what to do" (McKay,

2014).
Finally, chess is a great sport for older people. Chess is a mind sport that can help older adults to improve mental performance and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease as they age. Older people get a brain workout by playing chess, which helps to improve their memory and stay active. Older people can join the chess clubs where they can meet other people, increase their social networks. There are many older adults who started playing chess when they were young, as they older their skills got improved and their memory got sharped (Berlin, Klenosky, 2014). Older people can also participate in tournaments in chess where they get to meet different opponents with whom they will play. However, organizations focus on physical and mental health during senior games for older people (Cardenas, Henderson, Wilson, 2009). Older people who play chess, their mind always stays active and sharp. Older people get an opportunity to go out and play chess with other people where they can admire the nature and make new friends which helps them to live their independent life. Older people can create their own group where they can challenge each other for a chess game which requires mental focus, it provides a motivation for taking a challenge and make them feel good. Chess sport engages older people’s mind which increases their ability to focus mentally (Berlin, Klenosky, 2014).
In conclusion, there are many reasons that older adults need to play sports for healthy living. Playing sports give opportunities to older adults to meet different people who share same interest and hobbies as them. Sports allows older people to become and remain physically and socially active (Cardenas, Henderson, Wilson, 2009). “Lack of social support and low self-efficacy are important barriers to regular exercise and physical activity” (Orsega-Smith et al., 2007). Socialization, being around other people, playing sports are a key ingredient for older peoples’ health. Sports help older people to get active and stronger mentally, emotionally and physically (McKay, 2014). Older people lose their bone density which makes their bones weaker and their bone fracture rate increases as they age; however, older people can decrease the rate of bone fracture by playing sports and getting workout for their body (Marques, Carvalho, 2012). Sports are good way to relieve stress for older people and they get the opportunity to meet other people from different neighbours. Older people who play sports they define competition as a youthfulness, independence and they realized that they had the ability to keep up with children or grandchildren in games even if they are aged (Berlin, Klenosky, 2014). Older people should participate in sports because it provides many benefits to body with their muscles, bones, blood circulations and reduces the risk of many diseases. However, if the older adults are concerned for their healthy living than they should participate in sports.