During the summer months, we Minnesotans come out of hibernation to enjoy working in our gardens, golfing beautiful local courses, walking and biking the many trails of Eden Prairie and chasing our children and grandchildren at the parks. Kudos to everyone who has increased their physical activity this summer. “Use it or lose it” is not a cliché!

Physical Activity contains three major components. Aerobic activity increases endurance which is our ability to sustain an activity over a given time period. It is critical for preventing chronic disease and helping to control weight. Older adults should engage in at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity on 5 days per week based on recommendations by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Muscle-strengthening activity helps to offset muscle loss and promote good bone health. The lack of strength training can lead to a 15% loss in strength during our 60’s, another 15% in our 70’s and 30% in both our 80’s and 90’s! On at least two days per week, we should engage in activities that promote muscle strength and endurance such as lifting hand and ankle weights or using a local fitness center. Finally, flexibility and balance activities may be helpful in reducing the likelihood of falling. Good range of motion makes everyday movements such as reaching overhead to get a grocery item off the top shelf and bending down to pick up the paper easier. Stretching exercises should be performed 2-3 days per week.

An increase in physical activity can improve our golf game, make gardening more enjoyable and make the kids and grandkids easier to run after. Eden Prairie has many opportunities for older adults to increase their physical activity and to improve their overall health and wellness. In recent years, Eden Prairie has seen a boost in physical activities available for older adults.

Dave Anderson and his wife Sherry have lived in Eden Prairie for over 35 years. Due to changes in their health over the years, they decided to become more physically active and wanted to take advantage of the opportunities available for older adults in Eden Prairie.They both joined a health club where Sherry participates in water exercise classes and Dave uses the cardiovascular equipment, such as the treadmill and the strength training equipment. Along with being active with their family, they both also walk the trails around the Eden Prairie Community Center and in their neighborhood. Sherry now reports a decrease in low back pain from regular exercise. Dave’s physician has noticed an improvement in his overall health and he has decreased his medication since becoming more physically active. Overall, he feels stronger and can complete daily tasks with greater ease. Dave recommends exercising in moderation and setting realistic goals for those that are interested in becoming more physically active.

Physical therapy, massage therapy, foot care, adapted fitness classes and adult day services are available at Prairie Adult Care. The Eden Prairie Community Center has a newly updated facility that offers exercise classes, fitness center and pool. Garden and walking trails as well as exercise classes are available at the Eden Prairie Senior Center. The Summit Club at Summit Place Senior Campus offers a warm water exercise pool, HydroWorx therapy pool, state of the art fitness equipment, experienced staff and innovative programming for older adults. Sometimes seniors may feel intimidated by the typical health club for younger adults who grew up around complex fitness equiptment . What makes Summit Club unique as a health club is its exclusive focus and service to seniors, with equiptment that is designed for seniors and safe for seniors. Physical Therapy from Integrated Medical Rehabilitation of Minnesota LLC, Park Nicollet and The Courage Center also offer their services to the community through the Summit Club. Massage is also available. The Summit Place fitness center and pool are open to community adults aged 55 and older.

It is rarely too late to increase your strength and fitness level, even at an advanced age. Guidance is available if you are uncertain about what course to take. So get out there and do…stretch, walk, bike, swim, hike, chase, lift, garden and play in our beautiful community.

Eden Prairie Professionals in Aging is a professional networking organization made up of representatives of diverse organizations, all committed to the welfare of seniors in our community. For more information on EPPIA and a list of resources regarding activities in Eden Prairie, please visit our website at www.edenprairieaging.org/.

Submitted by EPPIA Members:

Christine Shidla, Director of Wellness, Summit Place Senior Campus, 952.995.1022

Michelle Hubbard, Marketing Director, Summit Place Senior Campus, 952.995.1005

Joanne Bartel, Director of Prairie Adult Care, 612.741.9163

Caroline Kennedy, Director of Community Relations, Integrated Medical Rehabilitation of MN, LLC, 651.470.3067

Lisa Schmidtke, Housecalls Network President, 952.303.4207

Joyce M. Konczyk, Geriatric Care Manager, 612.227.7414

Resources Regarding Activities in Eden Prairie

Integrated Medical Rehabilitation

www.imr-mn.com

952-837-8991

Courage Center

www.courage.org

763-520-0320

Park Nicollet

www.parknicollet.com

952-993-5900