“Age shouldn’t keep anyone from exercising,” says Richard Kratche, MD, Medical Director for Cleveland Clinic’s Twinsburg Family Health and Surgery Center. “Just look at the athletes who recently participated in the Senior Games.”

It’s true, however, that older adults who exercise may face physical challenges simply because their bodies are aging, says Dr. Kratche. For example:

Osteoarthritis is more common
Kidneys may not function as well
Risk of injury, such as a rotator cuff tear, increases
Cumulative effects of smoking and pollution dramatically increases the rate of declining lung capacity

Despite all this, you’re still better off exercising. “The challenges of an aging body are just a part of reality,” Dr. Kratche says. “But people who stay fit throughout their lives have bodies that become – and stay – more efficient.”