Benefits of exercise for older adults

Elder Exercise

Everyone knows that exercise is important for most adults. However, it's really easy to think about exercise and senior citizens differently. Older people may not be able to jog five miles as they did when they were younger. Walking a mile or working out at a gym may be impossible or they may feel they wouldn't be able to do enough to benefit their health. In addition, exercise can help decrease both the pain and the need for some medications (1).

Actually, just the opposite is true: exercise helps the health of senior citizens in several ways. Research summarized in 2001 (JOPERD) shows that exercise can strengthen the immune systems of older people. More importantly, the level of exercise required was within the ability of most seniors. They did warm-up, mobility and stretching for only 45 minutes, and only twice a week, to see the benefits (3). In spite of this, one study showed that physicians only talk to their older patients about the value of exercise one-third of the time (1).

Exercise for older is an important issue because loss of former physical abilities correlates with reduced exercise (4). The researchers suspected that other factors common to older age, such as other health concerns, might also contribute to the decline in exercise. However, the pace of exercise can be set to fit the needs of the individual exerciser, and exercise can be chosen that fits their particular needs and abilities (4).

However, some family practice doctors have found that talking to their older patients often results in a person more willing to add exercise to his or her lifestyle (1). A wide range of exercise approaches are available, such as water exercise (1) and tai chi (2). Tai Chi is a centuries-old form of exercise from China. It is low impact and does not require extended endurance or high levels of coordination to perform, and skills can be learned gradually as the person participates in it. In spite of its physical simplicity, it has been shown to improve cardiovascular function, coordination, balance (2) and sleep (4). Its psychological benefits included an ability to ease stress, depression and anxiety (2).

Some of the research regarding exercise in elderly people shows cultural preferences. For example, one subculture of people in the United States is more willing to participate in water exercise than another (1). This suggests that suggestions for ways to exercise should be flexible and consider individuals' personal preferences.

Remaining flexible and keeping coordination skills as strong as possible is important for older people, who are more likely to develop arthritis, have lessened ability to maintain their balance, and lose some ability both for locomotor and coordination. The right exercise can ease these problems, sometimes significantly (2). Balance is a particular concern, because statistics show that more than 35% of those over the age of 65 fall every year. Many of these falls have serious consequences for the victim (3).