The 77-year-old assured you don’t need to stick to his rigorous routine to age healthily
“If you rest, you rust” declared Arnold Schwarzenegger, who at 77 is sharing the best thing he did in his 50s to maintain health while ageing. Speaking at the CNBC CEO Council Summit in Arizona, the actor emphasised the importance of staying active: “It is extremely important to not stop moving when you’re 50 or 60 just because of joint problems.
“If you stop movement, then this is the first step to death. If you rest, you rust.”
He stressed that continuing to move is key to healthy ageing, particularly in one’s 50s and 60s. The intensity of the activity isn’t the focus, though, as Schwarzenegger assured fans don’t need to be taking on his personal routine.
The iconic Terminator actor suggested: “Do something. It doesn’t matter to me if you play tennis, if you go skiing, if you play soccer, or if you lift weights…but do something.”
Arnold’s advice is testament to his new role as Chief Movement Officer for Zimmer Biomet, a position he accepted last year. Ever since, he’s been using his platform to help people overcome their fear of medical technology which is holding them back from exercising in later life.
Despite his portrayals of indestructible characters on the big screen, Schwarzenegger has weathered several serious health challenges. He has undergone two open-heart surgeries to replace parts of his heart and just last year was fitted with a pacemaker due to a genetic heart condition.
He’s also undergone a hip replacement, which he’s turned into a positive message with his ‘You’ll Be Back’ campaign. He commented: “I want to let people know and give them the courage to get those things fixed and continue moving. Don’t let anything get in the way. Exercise, exercise, exercise.”
The campaign aims to motivate people to stop avoiding treatment, re-engage with physical activity, and enhance their overall health as they grow older. This is especially pertinent for the one in four Americans who suffer from knee pain.
According to CNBC, the Austrian celebrity maintains a daily fitness regimen that includes an hour of cycling and 45 minutes of weight training. His extensive gym experience has led to some insightful reflections.
He recalled hearing many people complaining about having to skip exercises or adjust their routines as they were told they’d need procedures like shoulder replacements. However, they were afraid of the surgery and opted to let their exercise suffer instead o getting treatment.
The ex-governor stressed that surgery should not be the first solution for joint issues. However, he pointed out that many are unaware of the remarkable technological advancements at their disposal.
Reflecting on his own hip surgery, he remembered: “When I did it, I had to stay in the hospital for days and had months of therapy.” In comparison, he said current technologies can enable patients to “walk out” after the operation.