The years pass and the body starts showing signs. From muscles, to bones and different organs, capacity decreases naturally and differently from person to person. Doctor Sofia Duque, with expertise in geriatrics, explains that As we age we lose “muscle strength, there are also changes in our osteoarticular system (…), we also have degradation in the bone, with a decrease in bone density, in the heart and our vessels”.
The degradation of the physical and often psychological state, natural to advancing age, leads to elderly people experiencing high rates of sedentary lifestyle, since, as explained by Fátima Batista, researcher at the Faculty of Human Motricity, in this age group “there are no major limitations hours.” Elderly people end up being able to “sit for a long time and it is important to be able to limit this behavior, especially because it is harmful, when we talk about accumulations of more than 8 hours”.
Data from a study from a Scottish university shows that 60% of elderly people exceed the 8-hour limit. Combating these values can be a step towards avoiding a decrease in functional capacity, that is, the ability to carry out essential day-to-day activities. Like this, physical exercise can act as “a medicine”explains the doctor specializing in geriatrics, as it can “reverse a large part of physiological changes, prevent various diseases such as high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, heart failure, osteoporosis (…) even memory changes can benefit.”
Fátima Batista recalls the saying “a healthy mind in a healthy body”, to explain that muscle contraction, which comes from physical exercise, releases substances to various organs, one of them is irisin, a hormone, which in turn conditions the production of neurotrophic factors and, therefore, this is a very important stimulus.”
When it comes to physical exercise for the elderly, the key word is adaptation, as this is a very “heterogeneous” population, explains doctor Sofia Duque, revealing that the “secret will be that there is no discomfort and that the person does not feel that they are to make an effort beyond their capabilities.” To this, the researcher from the Faculty of Human Motricity adds that “specialized technicians are needed to implement these programs, which have strength components, aerobics, with more intensity or which imply more diversity and balance to prevent falls.” According to experts, physical exercise also has benefits in terms of socialization, which is essential in a country where more than 40 thousand elderly people live in isolation.
This project is supported by sponsors, with all content created, edited and produced by Expresso (see code of Conduct), without external interference.
Source: expresso.pt
