At least 75% of people age > 65 yr do not exercise at recommended levels despite the known health benefits of exercise:
Furthermore, many elderly people are not aware of how hard to exercise and also do not appreciate how much exercise they are capable of.
Exercise is one of the safest ways to improve health. Because of the decline in physical capability due to aging and age-related disorders, the elderly may benefit from exercise more than younger people. Exercise has proven benefits even when begun in later years. Basic, modest strength training helps elderly patients carry out activities of daily living. Many elderly patients need guidance regarding a safe and appropriate regular exercise regimen.
The largest health benefits occur, particularly with aerobic exercise, when sedentary patients begin exercising.
Strength decreases with age, and decreased strength can compromise function. For example, almost half of women > 65 and more than half of women > 75 cannot lift 4.5 kg. Strength training can increase muscle mass by 25 to 100% or more, meaningfully improving function. The same degree of muscle work demands less cardiovascular exertion; increasing leg muscle strength improves walking speed and stair climbing. Also, institutionalized elderly with more muscle mass have better nitrogen balance, less deconditioning, and a better prognosis during critical illness.
Contraindications
Absolute contraindications (1) include
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Acute myocardial infarction (MI), within 2 days
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Ongoing unstable angina
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Uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia with hemodynamic compromise
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Active endocarditis
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Symptomatic severe aortic stenosis
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Decompensated heart failure
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Acute pulmonary embolism, pulmonary infarction, or deep vein thrombosis
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Acute myocarditis or pericarditis
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Acute aortic dissection
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Physical disability that precludes safe and adequate exercise
Relative contraindications (1) include
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Known obstructive left main coronary artery stenosis
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Moderate to severe aortic stenosis with uncertain relation to symptoms
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Tachyarrhythmias with uncontrolled ventricular rates
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Acquired advanced or complete heart block
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Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with severe resting gradient
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Recent stroke or transient ischemic attack
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Mental impairment with limited ability to safely cooperate
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Resting hypertension with systolic or diastolic blood pressures > 200/110 mmHg
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Uncorrected medical conditions, such as significant anemia, important electrolyte imbalance (eg, hypokalemia), and hyperthyroidism
Most patients with relative contraindications can exercise in some form, although typically at lower levels of intensity and in more structured circumstances than other patients (see Cardiovascular Rehabilitation). At times, shorter bursts of higher intensity exercise with rests between attempts can be more accommodating than sustained moderate-intensity exercise. The exercise program may be modified for patients with other disorders (eg, arthritic disorders, particularly those involving major weight-bearing joints, such as the knees, ankles, and hips).
Patients should be clearly told to stop exercising and seek medical attention if they develop chest pain, light-headedness, or palpitations.
Screening
Before beginning an exercise program, elderly people should undergo clinical evaluation aimed at detecting cardiac disorders and physical limitations to exercise. Routine ECG is not required unless history and physical examination indicate otherwise. Exercise stress testing is usually unnecessary for elderly people who plan to begin exercising slowly and increase intensity only gradually. For sedentary people who plan to begin intense exercise, stress testing should be considered if they have any of the following (1):
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Known coronary artery disease
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Symptoms of coronary artery disease
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≥ 2 cardiac risk factors (eg, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, family history of early coronary artery disease)
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Lung disease, known or suspected
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Diabetes, known or suspected
General reference
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Fletcher GF, Ades PA, Kligfield P, et al: Exercise standards for testing and training: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 128(8):873-934, 2013.
Exercise program
A comprehensive exercise program should include
Often a single program can be designed to achieve all exercise goals. Strength training improves muscular mass, muscular endurance, and strength. If strength training is done through a full range of motion, many exercises improve flexibility, and the enhanced muscle strength improves joint stability and, consequently, balance. Moreover, if rests between sets are minimal, cardiovascular function also improves.
Duration of aerobic activity for elderly people is similar to that for younger adults, but exercise should be less intense. Usually during exercise, the person should be able to comfortably converse, and intensity should be ≤ 6/10 on a perceived scale of exertion. Elderly people who have no contraindications can gradually increase their target heart rate (HRmax) to the one calculated by use of age-based formulas.
Some deconditioned elderly people need to improve their functional abilities (eg, by strength training) before they will be capable of aerobic exercise.
Strength training is done according to the same principles and techniques as in younger adults. Lighter forces (loads/resistance) should be used initially (eg, using bands or weights as light as 1 kg or arising from a chair) and increased as tolerated. More aggressive training (the use of higher resistance initially) should be under the supervision of a qualified fitness professional.
To help increase flexibility, major muscle groups should be stretched once daily, ideally after exercise when muscles are most compliant.
Balance training traditionally involves challenging the center of gravity by undertaking exercises in unstable environments, such as standing on one leg or using balance or wobble boards. Balance training can help some people with impaired proprioception and is often used in an attempt to prevent falls in the elderly. However, it is often ineffective because any balance activity is skill specific (eg, good balance while standing on a balance board does not improve balance in dissimilar activities). For most elderly people, flexibility and strength training exercises prevent falls more effectively. Such a program develops strength around the joints and helps people hold body positions more effectively while standing and walking. In people who have difficulty standing and walking because of poor balance, more challenging balance tasks (eg, standing on a wobble board) are simply likely to facilitate injury and are contraindicated.
