Why I never prescribe rest to my senior patients

Sarcopenia doesn't take weekends off

When a patient in their 70s comes to my clinic complaining of fatigue, slowing down or a general loss of energy, they are often looking for permission to stop. They expect me to tell them to put their feet up, take a nap, and take it easy.

They are usually shocked when I tell them the opposite.

As a physician and the co-founder of Aamra, I have seen that for a senior, rest is often the first step toward a loss of independence. In fact, in the world of longevity science, we have a saying: If you rest, you rust.

The clinical trap of ‘taking it easy’

We have been conditioned to believe that aging is a period of fragility where we must conserve energy. But biology tells a different story.

When a senior spends a weekend in a recliner—watching television and moving only from the bed to the dining table—two dangerous processes accelerate:

1. Sarcopenia (muscle wasting): In older adults, muscle mass isn't just lost, it is abandoned by the nervous system. 48 hours of inactivity can lead to a measurable drop in leg strength. This is how a little bit of tiredness on Saturday becomes a stumble on Monday.

2. Cognitive stasis: The brain is an expensive organ to run. If it isn't being challenged by social interaction, navigation or problem-solving, it begins to prune its own connections.

The Golden Cage of Gurgaon

In our city, many seniors live in beautiful, high-rise apartments. They are safe, they have help and they are comfortable. But this comfort is a Golden Cage.

When the world shrinks to the size of a living room, the "curve" of life starts to drop. At Aamra, our goal is to Square the Curve. We want you to live at 100% capacity for as long as possible, rather than experiencing a slow, 20-year decline. You don’t achieve that by resting, you achieve it through active recovery.

Prescription for the weekend

If you are an adult child looking after your parents this weekend, I want you to stop treating them like they are delicate. Instead, treat them like they are capable.

1. Trade the nap for a 'social sip' Instead of a two-hour afternoon nap (which often disrupts night-time sleep and brain rhythm), take them out. Even a 15-minute walk in the society park where they have to greet three neighbours provides more cognitive load than a whole day of television.

2. Practice 'functional movement' Don't do everything for them. If they can get up to get their own glass of water, let them. Those "micro-movements" are the only thing keeping Sarcopenia at bay.

3. Seek a 'social buffer' Isolation is as toxic to the heart as high blood pressure. This weekend, ensure they have at least one conversation that isn't about their health or their medicines.

The Monday reality

On Monday morning, many seniors feel stiff or heavy. Most people blame old age. As a doctor, I blame the weekend's lack of stimulation.

At Aamra, we don't offer "rest." We offer a vibrant, clinically-backed environment where "Active Recovery" is the norm. We check vitals, we lead physiotherapist-guided movements, and we foster deep social connections.

Don't wait for a fall or a forgetful episode to act. My prescription: Stop resting. Start living.

Are you worried your parent is "resting" too much? Join us this Tuesday at Aamra for a cup of tea & mobility session. Let’s see how we can help them find their energy again.