Enhance your brain health by staying active
Following Brain Awareness Week, Luke Mapunda, Physiologist, has shared some simple tips to support brain health.
Embrace the great outdoors
Walking is a fantastic form of exercise. It’s low-impact, accessible, and South Australia’s beautiful parks and walking trails make it an appealing option. Not only does walking improve physical health, but it also offers a chance to socialise and connect with the community, while enriching your mental wellbeing.
Strenghten your heart and mind
Engaging in regular cardiovascular exercise is crucial. It boosts blood circulation, which increases oxygen supply to the brain and releases hormones that help in the growth and protection of brain cells.
Incorporate intervals of increased intensity during your exercises to keep your heart rate within an optimal range for your age, which is beneficial for both heart health and cognitive function. As always, contact your health team for individualised advice.
Build a routine with others
One of the best ways to stick to an exercise routine is to join others.
Whether it’s with friends, family, or a community group, shared activities provide encouragement and make it easier to form lasting habits. Plus, the social interaction can be as rewarding as the exercise itself.
Engage in dual-task activities
Activities like yoga, dancing, and tai chi, which challenge both your body and mind, are excellent for improving balance and cognitive skills such as reaction time.
At ACH Group, besides exercise and wellness groups, the HUR Senso machine offers fun and interactive dual-task training sessions that benefit both your physical and cognitive health.
HUR Senso is a physical training platform that uses a computer screen and pressure plate sensors to create interactive, dual-task training sessions, challenging the body and the brain at the same time. The Senso is located at our Health Studio Christie Downs and Health Studio Rostrevor.
A journey towards a healthier you
From my experience, I’ve witnessed the profound positive effects that regular physical activity can have on both the body and mind of older adults. Remember, it’s never too late to start a journey towards a healthier you.
Supporting you to achieve your health and wellbeing goals
Whether it’s being able to enjoy activities that you love or trying new ones, recovering from a setback, or managing an ongoing condition, we’re here to help. You can access health and wellbeing services in your own home, or at our three Health Studio locations at Christie Downs, Glenelg and Rostrevor.
Along with individual services, our specialised health programs combine exercise and education to promote independent living and positive health outcomes.
Contact us today to find out more.
About Luke Mapunda
Luke Mapunda is a Physiologist and the Health Services Team Leader at ACH Group, where he oversees a team of 14 allied health professionals across four residential care homes.
Luke is dedicated to supporting older South Australians through tailored wellbeing programs and fostering social connections within health studios.
