HIIT workouts, also known as high intensity interval training, have become quite popular as of recently. The reason for this is because they’re able to accomplish more in a shorter amount of time. However, they do require a great deal more work! During a HIIT workout, the objective is to do bursts of intense effort movements with short rest periods or active rest. This is just enough time to catch your breath and move onto the next exercise. It is maximum effort when working.
Many seniors are unsure if this type of workout is right for them and for good reason! It can be quite intense. But it’s also not impossible for seniors to do a HIIT workout. In fact, there are many different variations of doing one. Before we get into the video workout, let’s go through some benefits and cautions to HIIT workouts, and why this workout is accessible for seniors.
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Benefits of HIIT Workouts
Muscle Development
Mayo Clinic researchers studied the effects of HIIT workouts in a group of people aged 30 and younger, and on people over age 65. What they found was HIIT changed a cell’s DNA in the way it made the muscles produce energy. The mitochondria health, which creates energy in our cells, increased. And this was especially true in the older participants in the study.
Even more, some of the age-related deterioration of muscle cells was actually reversed. It boosted the muscle’s ability to produce energy and started the growth of new muscles. And as we age, we know that is most important to counteract muscle loss. According to the study’s senior author Dr. Sreekumaran Nair, the decline in the health of muscles as we age can actually be “corrected” with intense exercise. It’s never too late to benefit from exercise, he adds.
