As long as you are alive, you should exercise. Exercise is part of the equation for a healthy life no matter your age. Growing old is often synonymous with a decrease in physical activity - exercise. While a decrease in activity may be warranted it is important that the elderly not abandon exercise.

Professional fitness and lifestyle consultant at the Bermuda Athletic Club, Jacqueline Teunissen said that exercises that increase stability are particularly relevant to the senior populations "so that they can maintain their balance".

She said that among the physiological affects of ageing is "a significant decline in muscular strength and loss of bone mass and density." This puts the elderly at greater risk of osteoporosis (softening of the bones) and bone fractures due to falling.

Strength training including hand weights and resistance band exercises, improve muscle strength and power, she said. And, they and can decrease the risk of falling by as much as 25 percent. "This is an important fact as injuries caused by falls severely limit functional capacity and independence,' she added.

"But even as much as twenty years of strength and bone loss can be reversed after engaging in resistance training for at least two months. By partaking in strength training older men and women can experience strength gains exceeding 30 percent and mass gains exceeding 12 percent,' she said.

Impact exercises like jumping help build bone.

And for the elderly who have chronic illnesses like diabetes and cardiac disease, exercise remains important. Last year the Athletic Club started a clinical exercise programme. The health club has employed a clinical exercise specialist who works with the client's physician in designing a programme that suits their needs.

The programme is delivered in four, month-long stages. Clients meet three times a week working one-on-one with the clinical exercise specialist. In the first stage workouts are only 25 minutes long and by stage four - the Maintenance Stage clients will be able to work out for 55 minutes.

"This is a very safe environment for seniors to work out in,' said Ms Teunissen. "Their heart rate is monitored constantly and their blood pressure taken before and after each work out. Additionally all our staff, even our maintenance crew, are certified with AEF (automatic electronic defibrillators) and CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) so seniors are very safe here."

The clinical exercise programme is an important tool aimed at all those who have chronic illnesses, not just the elderly. The importance of the programme to good health has been recognised by local health insurer Colonial, who provides full coverage for their cardiac patients who need the programme.