Why do some older women have pain and get tired after walking alot? Are they just sore and don’t know it?
I know one 65yr old woman who had lots of pain in her hips and legs but her muscles are so atrophied from a lifetime without exercise. What is causing her pain and what can i do for her? Another woman in her sixties is walking 45mins a day since her husband died of heart complications. She want to avoid the same fate but she gets so tired after her walks. What is going on? Shouldn’t walking make people feel invigorated and happy?
Florann,
That being the case, I would say that everyone is different and responds to exercise differently.
Some will use the word “pain” when they really mean discomfort. I would not, however, be so dogmatic and say “women” when it comes to how the body responds to exercise.
The science teaches us that both men and women as far as muscle tissue is concerned respond similarly to a bout of exercise.
Thanks for your question.
I agree with the other posts regarding medical clearance, health history, prior exercise experience, etc.
You mentioned that one woman is walking 45min. While that may seem like a small duration for some clients, for others it may be too much. If they are new to exercise you may want to start with a shorter duration, low intensity and increase the frequency.
Also, as people age they need a longer warm-up and cool-down. Their thirst response also diminishes, so they may need to increase their water consumption. Even moderate dehydration can make someone feel fatigued. Water also helps with waste elimination, including lactic acid build-up. You may want to see if they’re consuming enough water.
If you are training these individuals I would get medical clearance (hopefully you already have) to be sure there isn’t an underlying issue causing the fatigue.
Generally if a person begins exercising in their 60’s they can expect to feel a certain amount of discomfort
Stay within your scope of practice and work with their doctors and Physical Therapists when needed.
Florann, walking, like any other exercise, has different effects on different people. Some get invigorated, others may get tired. To rule out ‘other factors’ such as something medical going on, you should have your client visit her (their) physician so as to make sure that there isn’t a medical reason for what they are observing. Tiredness and fatigue could have many sources so it’s always best to rule out a medical issue.
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
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