Exercise for Seniors (Print Version)

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Exercise for Seniors

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exerciseforseniors.html

Also called: Also called: Seniors' fitness

There is a fountain of youth. Millions have discovered it - the secret to feeling better and living longer. It's called staying active. Finding a program that works for you and sticking with it can pay big dividends. Regular exercise can prevent or delay diabetes and heart trouble. It can also reduce arthritis pain, anxiety and depression. It can help older people stay independent.

There are four main types of exercise and seniors need some of each:

Endurance activities - like walking, swimming, or riding a bike - which build "staying power" and improve the health of the heart and circulatory system
Strengthening exercises which build muscle tissue and reduce age-related muscle loss
Stretching exercises to keep the body limber and flexible
Balance exercises to reduce the chances of a fall

National Institute on Aging

Start Here

Exercise and Physical Activity: Getting Fit for Life(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/exercise.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol/Publicaciones/Ejercicio/introducción.htm
Exercise for Older Adults(National Institute on Aging) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/exercise/toc.html

Overviews

Exercise for the Elderly(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/seniors/staying/754.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/seniors/staying/754.printerview.html
Exercise: A Guide from the National Institute on Aging(National Institute on Aging) - Large PDF file - http://www.niapublications.org/exercisebook/ExerciseGuideComplete.pdf
For the Young at Heart: Exercise Tips for Seniors(American Physical Therapy Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=20451&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm
JAMA Patient Page: Fitness for Older Adults(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/300/9/1104.pdf
Seniors and Exercise(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00380

Latest News

Marathoners Show Higher-than-Expected Heart Risks(09/16/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69322.html
Exercise May Help Prevent Age-Related Memory Loss(09/02/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68820.html
Run for Your Life(08/11/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68022.html
More News on Exercise for Seniors http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_e.html#exerciseforseniors

Specific Conditions

Growing Stronger - Strength Training for Older Adults(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/growing_stronger/spotlight.htm
Warm Up, Cool Down and Be Flexible(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00310

Related Issues

Exercise and Alzheimer's: Boosts Physical and Emotional Health(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alzheimers/HQ00637/METHOD=print
Exercising with Arthritis: Improve Your Joint Pain and Stiffness(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/arthritis/AR00009/METHOD=print
Exercising with Osteoporosis: Stay Active the Safe Way(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/osteoporosis/HQ00643/METHOD=print
JAMA Patient Page: Frailty in Older Adults(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/296/18/2280.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/296/18/2280/DC1/1
Young at Heart: Tips for Older Adults(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/young_heart.htm
Also available in Spanish http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/personas_mayors.htm

Health Check Tools

Target Heart Rate Calculator(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_6_1x_Target_Heart_Rate_Calculator.asp

Tutorials

Exercise for Older Adults(National Institute on Aging) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/exercise/toc.html

Anatomy/Physiology

Effects of Aging(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00191&return_link=0

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Exercise for Seniors(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=senior+%5BAGE-GROUP%5D+AND+exercise+%5BTREATMENT%5D
ClinicalTrials.gov: Physical Fitness for Seniors(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=senior+%5BAGE-GROUP%5D+AND+%22physical+fitness%22+%5BALL-FIELDS%5D

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: JAMA patient page. Fitness for older adults. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18768423&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Effect of physical activity on cognitive function in older adults... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18768414&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: I'm 66 and take a brisk walk every day, and... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18693331&tool=MedlinePlus
Exercise for Seniors -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(exercise[majr]+OR+physical+fitness[majr])+AND+aged[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+systematic[sb])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Organizations

American Heart Association - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
National Institute on Aging - http://www.nia.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol/
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports - http://www.fitness.gov/

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Exercise and Physical Fitness - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exerciseandphysicalfitness.html
Seniors' Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/seniorshealth.html
Sports Fitness - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sportsfitness.html
Fitness and Exercise - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/fitnessandexercise.html
Seniors - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/seniors.html
Wellness and Lifestyle - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/wellnessandlifestyle.html

The primary NIH organization for research on Exercise for Seniors is the National Institute on Aging - http://www.nia.nih.gov/

Date last updated: September 17 2008

Topic last reviewed: July 17 2008