As a result of their educational background and life experiences, the current cohort of elders has developed a set of beliefs that differs from those of the rest of the population.Especially important, elders experienced a health care system very different from today’s system. The system they encountered was more focused on cure and less on prevention, more paternalistic, and driven by an outdated understanding of pathophysiology and the benefits of activity. Through much of their lives, today’s elders were counseled that the appropriate treatment of illness necessitated physical inactivity. For example, the standard of care for myocardial infarction and back pain used to call for prolonged periods of bedrest; now, exercise is standard practice. Some arthritic patients believe they should not exercise. A better understanding of one’s
own medical problems helps define the importance of physical activity. Given the proven protective role of physical activity in