Evidence suggests that regular physical
activity provides substantial
health benefits, reducing the risk
of many chronic diseases.1 Physical
activity is associated with reduced medical
costs, especially for women, and these cost
reductions become more significant with
increasing age.2 Current recommendations
encourage activity on most or all days of
the week, but only 31 percent of persons
65 to 74 years of age report regularly engaging
in moderate physical activity
for 20 minutes or more three
days a week; this rate drops to
20 percent by 75 years of age.1
Women are more likely than
men to report engaging in no
physical activity. These trends
have not improved over the
past decade.1 In addition, less than 50 percent
of older adults report that their physicians
have recommended exercise.3
Research has consistently shown that older
adults who remain or become active have a
significantly decreased risk of all-cause and
cardiovascular mortality compared with
their sedentary counterparts.4-6 Starting an
exercise program later in life can significantly
reduce risk factors even if a person
was sedentary when he or she was younger.
By understanding the specifics of disease
prevention and treatment through exercise,
physicians can play a significant role in
offering patients effective and inexpensive
primary or adjunct therapies, encouraging
appropriate physical activity, and eliminating
barriers that prevent older adults from
exercising regularly.7 Table 1 defines common
exercise terminology.