Aerobic Exercise for Older Adults

E-ISSN： 1944-4036|36|1|123-154

ISSN： 0198-8794

Source： Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Vol.36, Iss.1, 2016-01, pp. : 123-154

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

Older adults move less, making them prone to deconditioning and a host of other consequences including stiffness, weakness, cardiovascular changes, decreased balance, cognitive disorders, insomnia, mood changes, and adverse effects on appetite, to name a few. Because the benefits of aerobic exercise and physical activity are so powerful and pervasive in reversing the consequences of inactivity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have established guidelines for all adults of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity comprising aerobic and strengthening activity. Yet, the majority of older adults do not engage in any aerobic activity (CDC, 2013). Aerobic exercise is so important for health and chronic disease management that its prescription is a core competency for most health-care providers. This chapter reviews the effects of aging on aerobic capacity, the benefits of aerobic exercise across many common chronic diseases, and an evidence-based exercise prescription based on appropriate screening for a variety of conditions common to older adults.