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Geri-Fit® has offered group strength training exercise classes, fitness program licenses, and strength training fitness dvds for over 20 years. It was the very first strength training exercise program for older adults. Geri-Fit has since changed the lives of thousands of people helping them to become strong and independent again.
With the help of a geriatrician, physical therapists, exercise physiologists and other medical professionals, strength training exercises were modified to adapt to the needs of older adults. These safe and effective exercises can be done by anyone using just a set of 2-pound dumbbells.
Today, being a "fit" senior is an important aspect of maintaining an independent lifestyle. Health issues such as preventing osteoporosis, keeping diabetes in check, staying a healthy weight, and keeping muscles and bones strong are key ingredients to living a long and healthy life.
Strength training for women is vital in warding off and helping to prevent osteoporosis. As women age, estrogen is decreased and the bones begin to lose their bone density making them more susceptible to breaks and fractures. Even men can develop osteoporosis and especially if they have low muscle mass. Adding that strength training component to your present exercise program now will lay the foundation of bone strength later that may help brittle bones become strong again.
But, what if you are limited in movement because of arthritis? While it is true that arthritis can affect our mobility and can cause pain and swelling in the joints, studies have shown that any exercise, and particularly strength training, can help decrease arthritic conditions, improve lower back conditions, increase flexibility, and ease joint stiffness. Studies also show definitively that strength training exercises for the elderly can help prevent, halt and even reverse osteoporosis, especially when combined with proper nutrition. And a recent report made by CBS News says studies show that strength training can even prevent dementia in older adults!
Geri-Fit® was specifically designed for older adults that want to build muscular strength and stamina. Most of the exercises are performed seated in chairs. There are no aerobics or dance moves involved in the Geri-Fit® program and there's no choreography to learn either. The entire time is devoted to exercising with weights. In essence, it's a workout for your bones and your muscles!
Geri-Fit® is a very safe strength training exercise program for older adults of all senior ages and fitness levels. It requires just a set of 2-pound dumbbells (each), a non-skid chair to do the exercises in, and an exercise mat for the optional floor exercises. Both men and women can enroll. The Geri-Fit® program is held at Senior Centers, physical therapy clinics, hospitals, wellness centers, universities, retirement communities and other locations throughout the United States.
Check with your doctor first to see if he/she feels that resistance training with dumbbells is the right fit for your medical condition. It is generally recommended that strength training be done a minimum of two- to three-days-a-week resting at least one day between workouts. However, your doctor may recommend that you supplement the strength training workouts with other forms of exercise like walking, tai chi, yoga or even walking on a treadmill.
Benjamin Franklin once said that "dumbbells hold a lot of wealth of good in a handful of minutes." And, what he said couldn’t be truer. It’s never too late to get in shape. So, what are you waiting for? Pick up your weights and let's get started!
For more information on how to get Geri-Fit®
offered at your Senior Center, Medical Facility, or PT Clinic,
call us toll-free at 1-888-GERI-FIT
1-888-437-4348 | 
