Physical activity and the elderly

Abstract

Functional ageing processes are characterized by a loss of performance capabilities regarding coordination, flexibility, strength, speed, and endurance. The effects of ageing processes on the cardiovascular system and skeletal muscle are the foci of attention. After age 30, the maximum aerobic dynamic performance capacity decreases by an average of 8% per decade. The causes are mainly a reduction in the maximum cardiac output and decreases in capillarization and in the skeletal muscle mass. An improvement in the maximum oxygen uptake by 18% and in the aerobic-anaerobic threshold by 22% was achieved in untrained men aged 55-70 years, in a 12-week-long bicycle ergometer-training programme. The strength of the skeletal muscle decreases particularly after 50-60 years of age. The main cause is the reduction in the number of motor units and muscle fibres. Further, modifications of the endothelial function and the development of sarcopenia are of particular importance in ageing processes. General aerobic dynamic training can improve the endothelial function in old age and thus help prevent cardiovascular diseases. Strength training is most appropriate for the prevention of sarcopenia. Imaging techniques over the last 20 years have provided new findings on the influence and the significance of physical activity on the brain. We call this new interdisciplinary area 'Exercise Neuroscience'. Demands on coordination and aerobic dynamic endurance are suitable in counteracting age-related neuronal cellular loss, synapsis hypotrophy, and in improving neurogenesis and capillarization. Adjusted physical activity is thus capable of counteracting age-related changes and performance loss not only in the cardiovascular system but also in the brain.

Correlates of sport participation among community-dwelling elderly people in Germany: a cross-sectional study

“…Most sporting activities, e.g., swimming, ball games, or cycling, combine endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility training. Cross-sectional and interventional studies support that all those basic motor skills increase by regular training even in very old people and in elderly patients with chronic diseases [15,21,22,24,28]. Sporting activities may thus contribute toward meeting the physical activity recommendations.…”

The Effects of a Physical Activity Program and a Cognitive Training Program on the Long-Term Memory and Selective Attention of Older Adults: A Comparative Study

“…Third, there is confirmation from neuroscience that physical activity has a strong impact on the brain structure of older adults (Hollman, Struder, Tagarakis, & King, 2007). According to Kramer and Erickson (2007a), randomized clinical trials involving older adults have already shown that physical training can change the brain structure, increasing gray matter in 355 the frontal and temporal cortex and anterior white matter (Colcombe et al, 2006) or increasing the cerebral blood volume (Pereira et al, 2006).…”

Effect Of Short Term Aerobic Exercise (Football Training) On Lipid Profile And Myoglobin Levels In Apparently Healthy Students Of College Of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria

“…On the other hand athletes lead a physically active life as their academic curriculum itself includes daily physical exercise and outdoor games (Choudhary et al, 2015). It has been documented physical inactivity as a major health problem (Blair, 2009) and regular exercise is important for health and well being (Wilt et al, 2004;Hollmann et al, 2007;Sattelmair et al, 2009). Physical inactivity is contributing factor in several chronic diseases and conditions (Vona et al, 2004;Hambrecht et al, 2000).…”