British Journal of Sports Medicine 2009;43:28-31
Reviews
Physical activity and maintaining physical function in older adults
Department of Aging & Geriatric Research, University of Florida, Florida, USA
Todd Manini, Department of Aging & Geriatric Research, University of Florida, PO Box 112610, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; TManini@aging.ufl.edu; MPahor@aging.ufl.edu
Accepted 18 September 2008
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
Older Americans, the most rapidly growing age group, are the least physically active1 and generate the highest healthcare expenditures.2 For example, older persons who were functionally dependent accounted for 46% of the healthcare expenditures, but only made up 20% of the older adult population.3 Additionally, they spent $5000 more per year than people who remained independent. Physical activity (PA) may play an important role in maintaining health and physical function while reducing the healthcare burden.4 Recommendations for PA began in 1975 with the American College of Sports Medicines (ACSM) guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. While little space was devoted to PA in older adults, likely due to the limited amount of research, today a wealth of literature is available touting its benefits. Throughout the past two decades many obstacles to adopting PA, a safe and effective modality for improving physical capacity in older adults, have been overcome. Many
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