As we age, our bodies become more and more fragile. It is easy to assume that with repetition and consistent exercise, our bodies will continue to endure. However, the fact of the matter is that as we age, the more necessary it becomes to adjust our workout routine accordingly, to get results and avoid injury! Here are 10 of the worst exercises for people over the age of 40:

1. Hovering Leg Lifts

Hovering leg lifts are a wonderful way to work out your core. Unfortunately, it is another exercise that is better off for the younger generation. The chance of pulling a back muscle is highly likely when performing this exercise. Remember, your body has newfound sensitivity that needs to be taken into consideration.

2. Leg Extensions

Once you hit 40, it’s time to avoid leg extensions! They are a major risk to the knees, especially with heavy weights in play. The knees were not designed to fully extend while resisting heavy weights. Knee and ankle injuries are likely when performing this exercise.

3. Ab Exercises

Across the board, ab exercises are not effective at burning belly fat. That is a consistent misnomer that people of all ages tend to fall for. Instead, it is effective at toning and strengthens muscles that are already devoid of fat. Ab exercises like crunches and sit-ups cause curvature of the spine, which increases the possibility of spinal fractures, which is more likely as we age. And in middle age, the most common type of injury is spinal injuries.

4. Cardio

While cardio is a steadfast way to fend off body fat for many young people, it can be detrimental for many people over 40! Recent studies have proven that doing conventional cardio can be taxing on your body, and in turn increases the stress hormone “cortisol” and causes you to gain belly fat! So if you’ve been doing hardcore cardio, it may be time to reconsider your routine.

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