Walking Football is good for your physical and mental health

So can sport help prevent Dementia?
Being physically active benefits not just our physical self but also our mental health, with some research even suggesting that playing teamsport can help to prevent the onset of dementia

Regular exercise strengthens muscles, can increase or prevent decrease in bone density while the benefits of cardio vascular exercise are great for improving circulation and keeping your heart and circulation healthy.

Research has shown that the cognitive processes involved during sport activity, when to pass, where to pass, when to hold etc, help stimulate the processes that the brain employs for problem solving and quick -thinking solutions – something we generally use less and less as we get older.

Irisin
One of the most promising recent discoveries is around the hormone known as irisin. The body releases irisin during exercise. Initially, believed to be just part of our metabolism process, scientists discovered that irisin also promotes hippocampus growth, a part of the brain critical for memory. The hippocampus converts short-term memories into long-term memories, and helps with spatial and verbal memory.

They also noticed that people with Alzheimer’s, a type of dementia, had lower levels of irisin in their hippocampus. Therefore, it would seem that increasing your irisin levels by exercising more could help to prevent dementia.

So what about the other benefits of sport?
Active by design, sedentary by nature – is it no wonder that obesity and health problems start hammering away at us as soon as we hang up the boots, lay down the tennis racket or scrum down at the bar rather than on the pitch!

Exercise is essential to our well being and healthy mind set and we’re not even suggesting that you pound the streets mile after mile, swim the channel or indulge in hill walking. Ordinary walking, the dog for instance or to the shops where you’d normally use the car all helps and regularly provides amazing benefits… and if you want to make your walk even more interesting kicking a football around while you’re at it is hard to beat!

Other Benefits of exercise:
•Improved sleep
•Improved balance
•Better posture
•Increased strength
•Increased bone density
•Happy hormones – better mood
•Improved self-esteem
•Social interaction
•Reduced risk for bone cancers
•Reduced Dementia risk

There are so many benefits to regular exercise, that it seems crazy that we choose to ignore them and spend yet another hour on the sofa! Walking football supplies both the thinking strategies needed for an active brain as well as the physical requirements and benefits of exercise.

And should you need help an guidance with either Dementia or Altzeimers then please visit their websites:

DEMENTIA UK
ALZHEIMERS UK

Parkinsons
Staying active through exercise and team play can also help you live with Parkinson’s. Exercise can be one of the best ways for you to maintain your balance, strength and coordination; particularly bilateral exercises where both limbs work together to contract muscles, so kicking a football with two feet (doesn’t have to be Bobby Charlton level) and gentle Boxing drills with pads will provide bilateral workouts. Check out Parkinsons UK website for more information.
PARKINSONS UK