Meaning of Physical Activities for the Elderly: A Review

Wangui Anthony Muchiri¹, Oloo Micky Olutende^1, , Issah W. Kweyu¹ and Esther Vurigwa¹

¹Department of Health Promotion and Sport Science, School of Public Health, Biomedical Sciences and Technology, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya

Cite this paper:
Wangui Anthony Muchiri, Oloo Micky Olutende, Issah W. Kweyu and Esther Vurigwa. Meaning of Physical Activities for the Elderly: A Review. American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2018; 6(3):79-83. doi: 10.12691/ajssm-6-3-3

Abstract

Aging is a process of inherent change that has separate or joint effects on the individual identity. Aging brings about physiological, psychological and other kinds of changes to the human body. The frail elderly people present a clinical syndrome which comprises of unintentional body weight loss, muscle weakness, slow walking, self-reported exhaustion and low level of physical activity among the elderly people who are over the age of 65. When these changes occur the health benefits of fitness are retained and regress slowly. It is of importance to note that although some of the changes brought by aging can’t be controlled some can be controlled feasible in many of the body organs through exercise. The increasing use of preventive care, better medical management of mobility and changing lifestyles in older persons, exercise has beneficial effects on health and longevity. Psychological care plays useful part in coping with these situations. It also boosts self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worthy and therefore the purpose of this paper is to explore the importance of exercise to the aging persons and how the same helps reduce the effects of aging. This will be done by elaborating how exercise affects different body systems with age. In conclusion, the findings of this paper provide empirical evidence for the importance of supportive environments for the elderly people to continue performing meaningful occupations outdoors

Keywords:
physical activity elderly health promotion exercise

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Manini, T. M., & Pahor, M. (2009). Physical activity and maintaining physical function in older adults. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 43, 28-31.
[2]	Taylor, A. H., Cable, N. T., Faulkner, G., Hillsdon, M., Narici, M., Van der B., A. K. (2004). Physical activity and older adults: A review of health benefits and the effectiveness of interventions. Journal of Sports Sciences, 22, 703-725.
[3]	Kramer, A. F., Erickson, K. I., & Colcombe, S. J. (2006). Exercise, cognition, and the aging brain. Journal of Applied Physiology, 101, 1237-1242.
[4]	World Health Organization. (2017). Preventing Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) Reducing Environmental Risk Factors. Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/258796/1/WHO-FWC-EPE-17.01-eng.pdf?ua=1.
[5]	Taylor, A., Johnson, M., (2008). Physiology of Exercise and Healthy Aging. Thesis work.
[6]	Collette, M., Godin, G., Bradet, R., Gionet, J. (1994). Active living in communities: Understanding the intention to take up physical activity as an everyday way of life. Canadian Journal of Public Health 85 (6):418.
[7]	Lobo, Alexendrina (2011). Physical Activity and Health in the Elderly. UAE: Bentham Science Publishers, Sharjah.
[8]	Connor, D & Crowe, M & Spinks, W (2005). Effects of static stretching on leg capacity during cycling. Turin, Italy. 46 (1): 52-56.
[9]	Jones, Jessie R., Debra (2005). Physical activity instruction of older adults. Human kinetics. Library of Congress Cataloging in publication data. USA. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 24(2), 45-7.
[10]	Biller, H. (2002). Creative Fitness: Applying Health Psychology and Exercise Science to Everyday Life. Greenwood Press, Westport, CT, USA. 62.
[11]	Mayo Clinic staff (2012). Slide show: Balance exercises. Downloaded March, 31, 2013. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/balance-exercises/SM00049.
[12]	Verghese, J., Lipton, R., Katz, M., Hall, C., Derby, C., Kuslansky, G., Ambrose, A., Sliwinski, M., Buschke, H., (2003). Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly. New England Journal of Medicine., 348 (25), 8-16.
[13]	Aveyard, H. (2007). Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide. Maidenhead; NY: Open University Press.
[14]	Oshevire, R., (2012). Meaning of physical activities for the elderly. Arcada - Nylands svenska yrkeshögskola, Helsinki. Thesis work.
[15]	Kawano, Ichiro T., Shine-Ichiro K., Takahide M., Kenji I., Yukihide (2006). The Effects of Ball Exercise on Physical Functions in the Elderly Women. Fitness Sports Med. 55 Suppl.: 95-98.
[16]	Bakken, Rachel & Carey, James & Fabio, Richard & Erlandson, Trevor & Hake, Jennifer & Intihar, Todd (2001) Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Tracking Performance in Elderly People: A Pilot Study. Physical Therapy. Vol. 81, No 12, 1870-1879.
[17]	Fábio, Lira G., Pimentel R., Santos L., Oyama A., Damaso C., Nascimento V., Viana R., Boscolo V., Grassmann M., Santana A., Esteves S., Tufik M., Mello (2011). Human Kinetics, United States of America. 2, 18, 20.
[18]	Chen, S., Fu, Y. (2008). Leisure participation and enjoyment among the elderly: Individual characteristics and sociability. Educational gerontology, 34(10), 871-889.
[19]	Brooker, D., Duce, L. (2000). Wellbeing and activity in dementia: a comparison of group reminiscence therapy, structured goal directed group activity and unstructured time. Aging & Mental Health; 4(4), 354-358.
[20]	Kruger, T., Deborah, M., Faika, Z., (2012). Evaluation of the Mental Healthiness Aging initiative: community program to promote awareness about mental health and aging issues. Community mental health journal 48, (2), 193-201.
[21]	Mbuthis, M., Bambot, G., (2011). Utilizing elderly free time activities: a study of activities that promote health and wellbeing. Novia, Yrkeshögskolan, Vaasa.
[22]	Li, F., Duncan, T., Duncan, S., McAuley, E., Chaumeton, N., Harmer, P., (2001). Enhancing the Psychological Well-Being of Elderly Individuals Through Tai Chi Exercise: A Latent Growth Curve Analysis. Structural Equation Modeling; 8 (1), 53-83.
[23]	Borg, G. (1982). Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 14:377-381.
[24]	Varela, S., Ayán, C., Cancela, J., Martín, V., (2012). Effects of two different intensities of aerobic exercise on elderly people with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized pilot study. Clinical Rehabilitation; 26(5), 442-450.
[25]	Exercise training improves sleep pattern and metabolic profile in elderly people in a time dependent manner (2011). Lipids in Health and Disease, 10 (1), 113-118.
[26]	Kulas, M., (2011). Social & Emotional Benefits of Regular Exercise. Downloaded.
[27]	James 0. Judge et al. (2007). Physical activity and public health in older adults: recommendation from the American College of Sports Medicine and American Heart Association. 001:10.1249/mss.0b013e 3180616aa2.
[28]	Franklin, B, M. Whaley, And E. Howley. (2000). ACSM´S guidelines for exercise Testing and Prescription. 6th edition. 137-164.
[29]	Thacker, S., J. Gilchrist, D. Stroup, And C. Kimsey Jr. (2004). The impact of stretching on sport injury risk: a systematic review of the literature. Med Sci. Sports. Exerc. 36:371-378.
[30]	King, A., L. Fruit, W. Phillips, R. Oka, A. Rodenburg, & W.Haskell.(2000). Comparative effects of two physical activity programs on measured and perceived physical functioning and other health related quality of life outcomes in older adults. J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 55(A):M74-M83.
[31]	American Geriatrics Society. (2001). Exercise prescription for older adults with osteoarthritis pain: consensus practice recommendations. A supplement to the AGS Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of chronic pain in older adults. J. Am. Geriatric. Soc. 49:808-823.
[32]	Robertson, M., A. Campbell, M. Gardner, And N. Devlin. (2002). Preventing injuries in older people by preventing falls: a meta-analysis of individual-level data. J. AM. Geriatr. Soc. 50:905-911.
[33]	Sallis, J.F., Owen, N. Physical activity and behavioral medicine. Thousand Oaks: Sage; 1999. p 110-34.
[34]	Edward, E.M., et al. (2004) Motivating Elders to Initiate and Maintain Exercise. Arch Phys Med Rehabil; 85(Suppl 3): S52-7.
[35]	Geelen, R.J., Soons, P.H. (1996). Rehabilitation: an “everyday” model. Patient Educ Couns 1; 28:69-77.
[36]	Fogel, M.L., Rosillo, R.H. (1969). Correlation of psychological variables and progress in rehabilitation. Dis Nerv Syst; 30: 593-601.