Study Reveals Performing Light Physical Activity Prevents Major Mobility Disability Among Seniors

A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society considered whether a long-term exercise program could prevent a major mobility disability in seniors, reports the Times of India . This disability was designated the inability to walk 400 meters. Prior to the study, participants got less than 20 minutes of exercise a week and could walk 400 meters in less than 15 minutes. Subjects were split into an exercise cohort and a cohort that only received health education. By the sixth month of the study, those in the exercise group performed an additional 40 weekly minutes of exercise, which continued after 12 and 24 months. The program concentrated on aerobic exercises, mainly walking — with a goal of completing 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each week, plus balance, flexibility, and lower-body strengthening exercises. The findings indicated that the intensity of physical activity should be matched to each person's physical health to keep the likelihood of a major mobility disability to a minimum. The researchers also agreed that a "move more, more often" recommendation is a good starting point for older adults who want to sustain physical function and an independent lifestyle.