Each month the Exercise and Aging Course Assistants will review and discuss current studies and articles dealing with fitness and health and the senior population.
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Uptake and Adherence to Exercise
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- April 2018
According to the study, “Older Adults’ Uptake and Adherence to Exercise Classes: Instructors’ Perspectives,” important concepts to remember while participating and/or planning to participate in exercise programs and routines are uptake and adherence. Uptake is taking up or incorporating whatever is available and adherence is an attachment or commitment, and both are extremely important when it
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Tips and Considerations for Maintaining an Exercise Routine
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- March 2018
We all know exercise is great for both your physical and mental health, but often times, that is not enough motivation to really get out there and get active. Even harder than starting seems to be staying consistent and maintaining a healthy routine. A review article, Factors Associated with Exercise Adherence Among Older Adults, found that "The US have indicated that 40% of the adult population
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Women Can Strength Train, Too!
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- February 2018
Sarcopenia is a progressive loss of muscle mass. The average person starts to lose muscle mass and function at the age of 30 and can lose as much as 3%-5% of their muscle mass each decade after age 30. This degenerative process can be detrimental to an individual’s quality of life because it leads to a loss of strength and power, creating complications in functional abilities. A solution to
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Effect of Resistance Exercises on Function in Older Adults with Osteoporosis or Osteopenia
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- January 2018
Two common conditions that affect older adults are osteoporosis, a skeletal disease marked by a significant decrease in bone mass, and osteopenia, a condition of decreased bone density that is considered to be a precursor to osteoporosis. Ultimately, both of these ailments can lead to increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. Fortunately, resistance training programs may be able to
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Osteoarthritis and Water Exercise
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- December 2017
Osteoarthritis, which is often referred to as degenerative joint disease (Arden 16) is a condition in which the cartilage tissue attached at the end of a person’s bones begin to wear down gradually, worsening over time (Arden 14). There is an increased risk of getting this if you work in a physically demanding job \that often puts pressure on your joints. While it can affect any joint, the most
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Mall Walking: Exercise's Latest Trend
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- November 2017
Walking is known to be a popular activity that has been done for many decades. One of the most popular activities that involve walking is “mall walking”. Mall walking provides a “safe, clean, and social” environment for participants. Belza et al., conducted a study on mall walking in their article “Building Community: Stakeholder Perspectives on Walking in Malls and Other Venues”. They
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Fall Prevention
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- October 2017
Falls are the leading cause of injuries among older adults. To understand how or why falls occur, it is important to be aware of the fall risk factors. Fall risk factors include muscle weakness, poor balance and gait, certain medications, environmental hazards, and the fear of falling itself. Fall prevention programs aim to create an awareness about these risk factors, implement training
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Benefits of Exercise for Alzheimer's Disease
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- September 2017
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive mental deterioration that can occur in middle or old age, due to generalized degeneration of the brain causing problems with memory, cognitive abilities, and behavior. Treatment options that are designed to relieve the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are currently being researched with a majority of the studies involving pharmacological approaches.
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