| True |
1. Cardiovascular
fitness decreases by about 1 per cent a year after the age of
25. |
| |
The decline in cardiovascular fitness in less
active adults results in a diminished reserve for strenuous
exercise. The good news is that aerobic exercise at moderate
to high intensity improves cardiovascular fitness. All that's
required is an activity such as brisk walking that makes you
feel warm or sweat a little, breathe harder and feel your heart
beating faster. |
| |
|
| False |
2. Physically active people
have poorer memory and reaction times. |
| |
Aerobic fitness in fact increases memory and
reaction time. |
| |
|
| True |
3. Muscle strength can increase
up to 200% in older adults, gains that are hard to find in younger
people. |
| |
Muscle strength does decline with age, but training
programs over several weeks can lead to great gains in strength
among older adults. In frail individuals especially, increased
muscle activity can reverse serious functioning difficulties
due to sedentary living, and substantially improve prospects
for independent living. |
| |
|
| False |
4. Fear of injury is an insurmountable
obstacle to physical activity in older adults. |
| |
Fear of injury through physical activity is unnecessary
worry. With common sense, progressive training and opportunity
for rest, most injuries can be avoided. |
| |
|
| True |
5. Balance ability and confidence
can be boosted through physical activity. |
| |
Physical activity can improve leg and ankle strength,
which can reduce the risk of falling. Many falls are caused
by external factors such as poor lighting, scatter rugs, cluttered
floors or ice. With appropriate planning, these factors can
be either eliminated or minimized. An active lifestyle will
take care of intrinsic factors, such as muscle weakness, poor
reaction time and dizziness. |
| |
|
| Partly true |
6. Physical activity lowers
blood pressure. |
| |
Physical activity does lower blood pressure in
people with high blood pressure. It does not lower blood pressure
in people with normal blood pressure. |
| |
|
| True |
7. Exercise of moderate intensity
several times a week will protect against heart disease. |
| |
Most of the information on coronary heart disease
comes from men aged 40 to 50, but it shows that moderate exercise
protects against heart disease and deaths from all causes. Active
older people have the heart fitness of adults many years younger.
|
| |
|
| True |
8. More older women die of
heart disease than men. |
| |
Statistics show that 44% of older women die of
heart disease compared with 41% of men. |
| |
|
| False |
9. It is too late for sedentary
adults who have joint stiffness to do anything about it. |
| |
Sedentary older adults who have reduced joint
mobility can improve their flexibility with stretching exercises
at any age. Tying shoelaces, climbing stairs or playing golf
can all become easy with adequate joint mobility. |
| |
|
| False |
10. Older adults who plan to
do more physical activity through walking should consult their
physician. |
| |
In fact, it is people who take up sedentary living
who are significantly increasing their health risks and should
be consulting their physicians! |
What now? Get moving! Research shows that daily activity
improves function in older adults. So why not find a pair of comfortable
shoes and start a pleasant routine of walking - alone or with friends
- 10 to 15 minutes every day?
Previous:
Next: