Muscle bulk
It is important that older people (i.e age 70+) maintain muscle bulk for falls prevention and joint stability.
The importance of exercise in older people
As people age, it is even more important to remain physically active.
For many, ‘retirement’ at 65 can mean retiring from a former active lifestyle into a sedentary existence.
Being sedentary and not participating in exercise has a number of significant and adverse health effects.
Adverse health effects due to lack of exercise
Decline in cardiac fitness = decrease in capacities like doing simple things such as showering and dressing.
- muscle atrophy and weakening are exacerbated if the person also happens to be obese.
- poor muscle mass and strength are both critical issues in late life and promote disability.
Being inactive increases
- the risk of a range of diseases including arthritis,
- obesity
- diabetes
- osteoporosis
- heart disease
- some cancers and probably dementia and depression.
Becoming sedentary can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Once diseases develop that are related to this lifestyle, such as arthritis, physical activity may become more challenging making the whole problem worse.
