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We are discussing Physical activity - being out and about
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Question:
What is the recommended amount of time that I should be spending on exercise and how often should I be doing it? I'm 62 and feel quite active but don't want to be over doing it.

Answer:
Keith-The Active Australia guidelines for adults recommends a minimum of 30 minutes per day on most days of moderate physical activity (that is, activity which makes you puff a bit while you are doing it, but that you can still talk comfortably during the exercise) in order to achieve health benefits. This can include a range of activities such as:

- Things you do in your daily lifestyle that have a physical element (brisk walk with the dog, climbing stairs, gardening)

- Recreational activities that have a physical component (for example, golf, swimming) or

- More traditional forms of exercise such as strength training or cardiovascular fitness programs at the gym, group exercise programs (eg at the community centre), or activities like tai chi.

It is difficult to make blanket recommendations about how much time and how often you should do exercise, as it varies due to a number of factors such as your general health, and your current level of exercise. It sounds like you're already undertaking some exercise, as you describe yourself as "quite active". However, generally whatever level of activity you currently do, you should be able to build on that without any negative effects, so long as you build up the amount gradually. It is also recommended that you will be less at risk of excessive strain in muscles and joints if you vary the type of activities you do, rather than just doing the one type of activity every day. As well as minimising risk of overuse strains, this is also more likely to give you a broader range of health benefits than any one specific type of physical activity.

Finally, if you do have health problems affecting your ability to exercise, and in particular if you are considering starting a new form of fairly vigorous exercise, it is best to discuss this with your doctor or other health professional first.

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