Exercising Only One Hour Per Week Can Stave Off Disability Later in Life: Study

Disability in your golden years can be held at bay by performing some kind of physical activity for even just an hour each week, a new study found.

Technically, researchers at Northwestern Medicine found that less than 10 minutes of moderate exercise each day can do the trick for older adults, USA Today reported.

“Even though it’s well known physical activity can help prevent disability, for many people, they’re just inactive, and it’s daunting to get started,” lead author of the study, Dorothy Dunlop, told the newspaper.

By analyzing data from more than 1,500 adults in the Osteoarthritis Initiative, the study saw that just one cumulative hour of exercise per week led to an 85 percent lower risk of a mobility disability and fewer challenges in participants’ daily tasks, like getting dressed or simply walking around their homes.

While federal guidelines advise older adults get at least 2.5 hours a week of moderate activity, Dunlop hopes her team’s study will motivate sedentary people to get started.

“The more active you are, the more health benefits you get,” she said. “But if you can start to do at least 10 minutes a day of moderate activity, that may help you hold on to your abilities to stay independent.”