Activity in later life

• Published in: BMJ Vol. 330; no. 7484; pp. 189 - 191
• Main Authors: Young, Archie, Dinan, Susie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 22.01.2005; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
• Subjects: Age; Aged - physiology; Asthma; Bronchitis; Cardiovascular disease; Chronic illnesses; Clinical Review; Colleges & universities; Colorectal cancer; Counseling; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Disability; Disabled Persons - rehabilitation; Disease prevention; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Exercise intensity; Frailty; Health Services for the Aged - supply & distribution; Heart failure; Hospitals; Humans; Hypertension; Medical referrals; Medicine; Mens health; Older people; Osteoporosis; Pain; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Physical training; Recreation; Social Isolation; Thrombosis; Weightlifting; Womens health
• ISSN: 0959-8138; 1468-5833; 1756-1833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.330.7484.189

In the English National Fitness Survey, nearly half of women and 15% of men aged 70-74 years had a power to weight ratio (for extension of the lower limb) too low to be confident of being able to mount a 30 cm step without a hand rail. * Disease-osteoporosis, non-insulin dependent diabetes, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression, colon cancer * Disability-caused by intermittent claudication, angina pectoris, heart failure, asthma, chronic bronchitis, age related weakness * Problems-Arthritic pain, poor sleep, falls, fractures * Immobility-can cause faecal impaction, deep vein thrombosis, gravitational oedema * Isolation-can cause loneliness or depression or both A similar argument applies for endurance capacity: 80% of women and 35% of men aged 70-74 years had an aerobic power to weight ratio so low that they would be unable to sustain comfortably a walk at 5 km/h (3 mph). To start with, if 15 minutes sounds too much, take a "little and often" approach, advising the participant to progress steadily from just three minutes until three minutes becomes five minutes, then five minutes twice a day, increasing to 10, 15, and finally 30 minutes of moderate activity * Maximum benefit to health probably will be gained with 20 minutes of vigorous endurance activity three times a week, 20 minutes of strengthening activity twice a week, plus daily stretching, balance, and coordination activities * Any activity is better than none, and even once a week is better than nothing * It is never too late to start * It is best to select enjoyable activities How much is enough? [...]recently, published guidelines recommended vigorous physical activity to achieve the expected health benefits.