Older People Should Take A Hike
A research team at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, recently published a study called the “Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders” (LIFE) Study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study analyzed people ages 70 to 89 from eight different locations across the US who led sedentary lives. Low physical activity among older adults can increase the risk of institutionalization, hospitalization and even death. The study was meant to measure the effects of exercise among individuals who are at high risk.
People were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group consisted of 818 individuals who carried out daily moderate exercise, including strength, flexibility and balance training. The second group of 817 participants was required to attend health education classes and perform just stretching exercises.
At the end of the study, researchers found that those in the moderate exercise group had an 18% higher walking ability than those in the education classes group. The benefits of moderate exercise on the mobility of older adults are the latest study to show the health benefits of physical exercise among older adults. Other studies have found that physical activity for people aged 65 and over may reduce the risk of heart attack and that for women aged 50 and over, exercise may reduce the risk of kidney stones.
