Is roller skating good for seniors? Most seniors experience cognitive decline, balance issues, heart disease, arthritis, respiratory diseases, diabetes, sensory impairment, depression, isolation, and loneliness.

While these health concerns are manageable, some escalate and may take a toll on them if nothing is done.

The good news is that there are many ways to help seniors stay young and healthy. Guess what? Roller skating is one of them!

Overall, roller skating is an excellent way to exercise and keep fit while having fun. There’s no doubt seniors can use roller skating as a way to exercise while socializing with like-minded people.

Roller skating is an incredible roller sport hobby with many physical, health, and social benefits.

Roller skating works and builds all body muscles, especially in the lower body. It also improves the cardiovascular system, burns excess calories, and helps manage diabetes.

You’re at the right place if you’re wondering whether roller skating is good for seniors. I’ve put together this guide to help you see things in perspective.

So, let’s get to it!

Is Roller Skating Good for Seniors?

Is roller skating good for seniors? No doubt roller skating is good for seniors since it’s an excellent way to stay healthy and keep fit while having fun.

More importantly, roller skating is safe on joints and a reliable solution for most seniors’ health concerns.

But roller skating can also be risky for less experienced individuals. So, it should be done under expert supervision, especially for seniors.

How Roller Skating is Good for Seniors

Below, we dive deep into why and how roller skating is good for seniors!

1. Reverses Cognitive Decline

At least one in five seniors experience mental health issues like cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cognitive decline and mental health concern affecting seniors.

Early diagnosis and intervention are key to managing cognitive decline and other mental health concerns.

According to a Harvard Health study, vigorous exercise may counter the cognitive decline in early Alzheimer’s.

Since roller skating is considered a vigorous aerobic exercise, it passes for one of the best exercises to manage cognitive decline.

Research shows that physical fitness helps blood flow normally to brain tissue, reducing the risk of damage or deterioration.

More research posits that aerobic exercises like roller skating stimulate the release of growth hormones that can improve brain function.

There’s enough proof that roller skating can help reverse cognitive decline in seniors.

2. Restores Stability

Falls are common among seniors and the leading cause of injuries. Most seniors have weak muscles and struggle to maintain stability, making them susceptible to falls.

Maintaining balance and body parts coordination is the key to preventing fall injuries. One way to maintain balance and body parts coordination is balance training workouts.

According to a WebMD study, balance training involves exercises that strengthen the muscles that help keep you upright, including your legs and core. Roller skating passes for these exercises.

Roller skating is the real deal when it comes to balance and stability. One of the primary roller skating techniques is learning to maintain stability on rolling shoes.

So, seniors can use roller skating to develop stronger core and lower body muscles.

3. Manage Heart Disease

Heart disease is common among seniors worldwide. According to a Memorial Hamman study, approximately 82% of people who die of heart disease are 65 or older.

Heart disease is linked to conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol, which are common in seniors. These conditions should be appropriately managed to prevent heart disease in seniors.

Exercise is one reliable way to manage high blood pressure and cholesterol. According to a John Hopkins study, exercising improves the muscles’ ability to pull oxygen out of the blood, reducing the need for the heart to pump more blood to the muscles.

Exercising also reduces stress hormones that put an extra burden on the heart. No doubt, the impact of regular exercise shouldn’t be underestimated. There are many exercise activities seniors can indulge in.

The good news is that this is where roller skating comes in handy. Roller skating is relatively an intensive exercise since it works all body muscles.

Overall, roller skating improves your muscles’ ability to extract oxygen from the blood. This reduces the need for your heart to pump more blood to the muscles.

4. Low Impact and Easy on Joints

Arthritis is prevalent in seniors, affecting approximately 49.7% of adults over 65. This is according to a CDC report. Arthritis is painful and can lead to low quality of life since it affects the joints.

While arthritis may discourage physical activity, that’s not how it’s supposed to be. The truth is that you can work with a physician to advise on some of the best low-impact exercises.

Why is exercise crucial for arthritis, you ask? According to Mayoclinic, regular exercise increases strength and flexibility, reduces joint pain, and helps combat fatigue. If you’re wondering what exercise to indulge in, this is where roller skating comes in handy.

It’s a low-impact aerobic exercise and easy on joints. You only need to use the recommended posture, and you’re good to go. But what’s the recommended skating posture?

The recommended posture involves bending. Your knees should be above your toes and your shoulders over your hips.

This way, your body weight is transferred to the footballs instead of your back and knees.

5. Improves the Respiratory System

Respiratory diseases like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common among seniors. Unfortunately, they worsen with time when nothing is done.

Besides taking medication, regular exercise can also help manage the situation. According to a MyhealthVA report, exercising actively engages the lungs and heart to transport oxygenated blood to the body and muscles.

This helps keep the heart, lungs, and entire respiratory system healthy. Since roller skating is considered a low-impact aerobic exercise, it serves the same purpose.

6. Manage Diabetes

According to an American Diabetes Association report, approximately 29.2% of people ages 65 and older are living with diabetes. It’s one of the leading causes of death among seniors in the US. The good news s that it can be managed through exercise and medication.

According to a CDC report, being physically active increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin to manage diabetes effectively. Exercise also controls blood sugar levels. Roller skating is an excellent way to exercise to manage diabetes among seniors.

7. Manages Obesity

According to a CDC report, 44.3% of adults aged 40 to 59 years and 41.5% aged 60 and older are obese. It involves excessive body fat due to physical inactivity or a medical condition.

Losing excess weight is the way to manage diabetes. Some excellent recommendations include increasing physical activity and watching your diet.

While exercising isn’t an exciting experience for most people, some forms of exercise, like roller skating, are fun. This explains why roller skating is considered a fun way to lose weight while having fun.

This is how roller skating works. Roller skating uses energy for propulsion. While skating, the body converts stored fats to energy for propulsion.

It also converts blood sugar to glucose for roller skating activities. No calories will be left for storage in your body as fats after a one or two hours roller skating session.

How to Roller Skate Safely for Seniors

While roller skating is an excellent option for seniors to work out and have fun, getting started can be daunting. Don’t sweat it! Below is a quick rundown of how to roller skate safely for seniors.

Get a roller skating trainer.
Get the best fitting complete gear for roller skating like a helmet, elbow, wrist, and knee pads.
Use properly fitting roller skates. They should be a snug fit.
Sign up for seniors’ roller skating sessions at your local roller skating rink or skate park.
Avoid the urge to overskate.

Recommended Roller Skates for Seniors

1. C SEVEN C7skates Cute Roller Skates for Girls and Adults

2. Moxi Skates – Beach Bunny – Fashionable Womens Roller Skates

3. Womens Roller Skates PU Leather High-top Roller Skates

4. Candi GRL Sabina – Colorful Freestyle Roller Skates

5. Impala Rollerskates Impala Quad Skate Skates, Women