The Benefits of Physical Activity as One Ages

It’s been recommended for years – on this site, and elsewhere – that all older adults should participate in regular physical activity and avoid an inactive lifestyle. The types of exercise include aerobic (endurance), muscle strengthening (resistance), and flexibility. The American College of Sports Medicine has issued a position statement on the benefits that accrue from reach of these forms of exercise. Here’s a summary.

Aerobic exercise:

Improves cardiovascular reserve and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max).

Reduces age-related central body fat accumulation

Improves blood sugar regulation and clearance of lipids from the blood

Slows osteoporosis changes in postmenopausal women

Resistance exercise:

Increases muscle tone, and bone mass and strength.

Improves muscular endurance

Improves walking, chair stand, and balance activities.

Decreases total body fat

Improves bone mineral density

Decreases likelihood of depression or anxiety, helps treat depression

Lowers risk for cognitive decline and dementia

Flexibility exercise:

Improves range of movement

Decreases risk for falls

There are, of course, numerous other benefits of physical activity that are hard to quantitate and therefore not well-suited for clinical study. So why not start tomorrow?

Comments

[Guest]

My dad, who is 65, was in the army for about a dozen years, and has stayed off alcohol or cigarettes throughout his life. His diet has "lots" of milk, and high quality proteins. He is in fabulous shape. In fact, he's even stronger than me (I'm 22) :)