Is physical activity for the elderly a waste of time?

Physical activity for the elderly is not a waste of time and that there are many benefits to why the elderly people should be more physically active such as reducing the risk of falls, manage and prevent disease and to improve quality of life. As elderly people are commonly defined as 65 years and over then these benefits become even more significant. Supporting evidence can be seen in the National Physical Activity Guidelines, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, (2003), which outlines recommendations to being physically active, to help slow the aging process and allow people to remain independent for longer.

A common problem for elderly people is the risk of falls. Falls often result in fractures which can lead to a long term disability and loss of independence and confidence. Physical activity improves balance, muscle strength and reduces the risk of osteoporosis which are all major risk factors for falls. Improving a person’s balance can be achieved though exercises where the person can only use one leg or one arm to balance, they might use fit balls or balance balls to perform exercises where the person needs to focus on using their muscles to balance. Muscle strength can be achieved through a structured resistance program where the person uses their body weight or hand weights to perform regular contractions to increase the strength in their muscles. It is recommended by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, (2003), to start with smaller weights and gradually build up over time. Resistance training will also go a long way to building stronger bones in the body and gives the individual more resistance to getting osteoporosis later on in life.

Physical activity can help an individual to manage or prevent disease, the Australian Government Department of Health and Aging, (2003), defines this in three key areas, firstly, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, bone health, and body weight can improve with physical activity. Secondly prevention of more severe diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and osteoporosis can reduced with physical activity and thirdly improvements in sleep, immune function and mental health can also be reduced with physical activity. The health benefits associated with physical activity far out way any thought that physical activity could be a waste of time.

Physical activity can be a major factor in improving a person’s quality of life. Being physically active can enable a person to retain their independence which will go a long way in improving their self worth and confidence, together with more accessibility to community services and social interactions. Four recommendations from the National Physical Activity Guidelines, (2003) suggest people should think of movement as an opportunity, not an inconvenience; be active every day in as many ways as you can, put together at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days and if you can, also enjoy some regular, vigorous activity for extra health and fitness. There are many ways in which people of all ages can increase their physical activity. There are incidental activities such as house work, walking to the shops and gardening, there are leisure activities such as golf, lawn bowls and dancing or individuals can take a more structured approach and participate in walking groups, strength training or other group exercise activities. When implementing a new exercise regime or increasing your existing one there needs to be considerable safety measurements adhered too, to ensure you are not doing more harm than good. If you have recently had surgery, then consult your doctor before starting your new exercise regime. If dizziness, palpitations or chest pains occur during physical activity then cease the physical activity and consult a doctor.

In summary, there are many health benefits to support that physical activity is not a waste of time for the elderly. Physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of falls, manage and prevent disease and to improve a person’s quality of life, which provides better health outcomes to the individual whether they are physical, mental, social, emotional, cognitive or spiritual.

Reference List

National Physical Activity Guidelines, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, (2003).