Benefits of Exercise for Older Adults

Do Older Adults Exercise?

Fitness Assessment for Older Adults
Content used in session 2

Benefits of exercise for older adults

There are a number of benefits that exercise can offer older adults.
These benefits can be broken down into two categories
physiological and psychological. In the spaces provides below list
some of the benefits that could fit under each category;

Physiological

Psychological

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Do older adults exercise?

It has been identified that levels of physical activity tend to trend down
with increasing age. This point is highlighted in exercise participation
rates;
Only 31% of people aged 65-74 participate in 20 minutes of
moderate physical activity three or more times per week
Only 23% of people aged 75+ participate in 20 minutes of
moderate physical activity three or more times per week
This lack of participation in regular physical activity can lead to an
increased likelihood of developing various health conditions.
Consequences can also be measured in terms of the effect it has on
society. For example, medical costs for physically inactive older adults are
approximately double the costs for more active older adults.
So if we know that older adults dont exercise in great numbers, and we
know that this can impact upon both the individual and society, why dont
older adults exercise enough? There are a number of reasons behind this,
some of which are real factors, others are myths. In the spaces provided
below list some real factors that could hinder older adults to exercise as
well as some myths about exercise that older adult populations might
perceive;

Real factors preventing exercise

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 Myths

Fitness assessment for older adults

Because of varying levels of physical ability, some traditional fitness testing methods
dont suit all people in the older adult population. Considering this, it is helpful for the
fitness professional to have a pool of fitness testing activities to choose from when
conducting fitness testing.
Next to each of the testable characteristics below, describe a test that could be done
to measure performance for that particular component of fitness. Ensure that all the
activities you include are safe, valid, reliable and suitable for older adults.

Cardiovascular endurance

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Muscular endurance

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Muscular strength

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Flexibility

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Agility

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Balance

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Compare the fitness testing activities that you have devised

with those included in the Staying Active, Staying Strong
seniors fitness test (on eLearn). Use the space provided
below to comment on how relevant you think these tests
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are for your older adult client (would you use these tests for your older adult client?
Why / why not?).

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Last modified 31/08/2013 3:48:00 PM

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