More than 2 million deaths annually are related to lack of physical exercise. The elderly are the people who experience the highest levels of sedentary lifestyle. Experts warn of the urgency of increasing physical activity rates from the age of 60 onwards.
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. The degradation of the physical and often psychological state, natural to advancing age, leads the elderly to record high rates of sedentary lifestyle.
Data from a study from a Scottish university shows that 60% of elderly people exceed this limit. Combating it can be a step towards avoiding a decrease in functional capacity, that is, the ability to carry out essential day-to-day activities.
“Physical exercise is almost like a valid medicine to reverse many of the physiological changes caused by aging. It can prevent several diseases such as high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, heart failure, osteoporosis, degenerative osteoarticular disease, even memory changes can benefit from physical exercise”, explains Sofia Duque, a doctor with geriatric expertise.
When it comes to physical exercise, the key word is adaptation.
“A general basis is important, that is, limiting sedentary behavior. Here is at least 20 minutes of daily physical activity and then we have physical exercise and here we need specialized technicians to be able to guide and implement these programs that have these components: strength, aerobics with a little more intensity or that involve some diversity and balance also for the prevention of falls”, says Fátima Batista, faculty of human motricity at UL.
According to experts, physical exercise also has benefits in terms of socialization. Essential in a country where more than 40 thousand elderly people live in isolation.
