Senior Fitness Programs in Chile Boost Cardiovascular Health

Club Manquehue in Santiago, Chile, has introduced maintenance gymnastics classes for older adults. The program offers two groups: participants aged 65 and over meet on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 09:00 to 10:00, while those aged 75 and over meet from 10:00 to 11:00. Both sessions are led by instructor Andrea Martínez in the Sala de Alto Rendimiento and aim to improve mobility, balance, coordination, strength and overall wellbeing.

Sports‑health specialist Alfredo Román Parra Yarza explains that playing tennis after age 50 provides proven cardiovascular benefits. Regular tennis strengthens the heart muscle, lowers coronary risk, improves lipid profiles and can cut cardiovascular‑related mortality by up to 50 % compared with a sedentary lifestyle, thanks to its intermittent high‑intensity bursts.