Quick Summary:
It is now becoming apparent just how important remaining active is for our health as we start to get older. SA Health Chief Exercise Physiologist Bob Barnard highlighted this fact at the recent Australian Association of Gerontology Conference in Adelaide, stating that elderly people lose a certain amount of functionality when forced into even short-term bed rest. For people in their late 70’s and early 80’s who were bed-ridden for two weeks, it was found that they lost at least 50% of their functionality in just this short amount of time. Studies have shown that it can be even worse for those who were not very active prior to their illnesses. However, there are programs that have been gathering impressive results over the last decade that are helping people remain active and independent in their later years. These programs provide people with alternate forms of exercise that are suitable to their abilities. Barnard also highlighted the need for awareness regarding the lack of exercise that is present in the modern lifestyle of society today and warned a change is needed for our generations wellbeing.
Article Extract:
People must exercise regularly as they age or face the prospect of a potential rapid decline in their health, a national conference on ageing has heard. Speaking at the Australian Association of Gerontology Conference in Adelaide this Week, SA Health CHief Exercise Physiologist Bob Barnard highlighted how elderly people could see their functioning plummet if an illness forced them to get bed rest for even a couple of weeks. Explaining that exercise was the key to good health for older Australians, Barnard stated “it’s essential, it’s really not the time to slow down, it’s a time to think about looking for new options.”
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