The Influence of Exercises in the Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults.
Physical activity in the aging generation is a necessity. Its importance includes the prevention of illness, maintenance of independence, and in particular the improvement of lives.
Physical activity in essence adds quality to the life of older persons. As one age the biological changes such as reduced metabolism and physical-chemical properties of the cell together with the structural and functional changes in tissues and organs increases the risk of diseases, injury, and disability.
According to the NIA, exercises are generally classified into four types. However, this essay will emphasize three types which include endurance exercises or aerobic exercise, strength or resistance exercise, and balance exercises.
Aerobic exercise
Also, referred to as endurance exercises, it helps patients perform activities of daily living with minimal energy requirement from the body. This minimal requirement is a result of an improved lung capacity, improved circulatory system, and heart functioning. This exercise also helps avoid common diseases seen in older adults such as diabetes, cardiac illness, etc.
A typical example is brisk walking. This involves instructing the patient to walk as fast as possible without running.
These exercises help improves patients’ muscle efficiency. It ensures that patients are independent when performing activities of daily living such as climbing stairs when visiting a friend or lifting groceries. It helps reduce the rate of muscle atrophy (wasting) in an adult. A common example is the use of a sandbag and resistance bands usually attached to the limb of the patient.
Balance exercise
Reduced stability is a common development among adults and this consequently results in fall injuries. This type of injury is best avoided with balance exercises and examples include the one-leg stance which can be solely progressed by closing the eyes of the patient. However, these exercises should be carefully prescribed.
There is a common idea that exercises should be at the gym if, at all at home, it must be well planned. However, this guide explains that is not necessarily so. Exercises can be fit into your routine as part of your physical activities. This guide introduced me to the “Reward yourself” planning
It emphasizes that for each physical activity goal a patient reaches they should treat themselves to something special like a movie or a new CD.