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Why you should approach exercise differently as you age, according to expert

Tips on exercising after age 30

Experts say exercise is important, especially as you get older.

Age may just be a number, but that doesn’t mean you should push yourself quite like you did in your 20s.

How you approach exercise and fitness as you age should evolve to focus more on activities that promote overall well-being and disease prevention.

Dr. Christopher Cooke, an Orthopedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Physician with The Detroit Medical Center, stopped by “Live in the D,” to give some tips on how people can adapt their exercise routine.

“After the age of 30 our heartbeat can decrease by 1 to 2 beats a year,” Cooke said. He said daily endurance exercise can help increase oxygen levels and blood flow through the entire body.

Cooke said, per the CDC, exercising 20-30 minutes a day can also help with preventing age-related decrease in metabolism.

Cooke said muscle mass also decreases with age, and research shows the resistance training can help decrease the muscle loss. It also helps with balance, coordination, and decrease falls.

Cooke said something else to keep in mind as we age is keeping our flexibility, especially in the hips. He said daily stretching is good for the body as you age, and helps with flexibility.

For more tips from The Detroit Medical Center on the best exercise as you age click here.

To see the entire interview, click the video above.