Exercise for Older Adults

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

• Health Check Tools
• Videos and Tutorials

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

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Summary

Exercise and physical activity are good for just about everyone, including older adults. There are four main types and each type is different. Doing them all will give you more benefits.:

• Endurance, or aerobic, activities increase your breathing and heart rate. Brisk walking or jogging, dancing, swimming, and biking are examples.
• Strength exercises make your muscles stronger. Lifting weights or using a resistance band can build strength.
• Balance exercises help prevent falls
• Flexibility exercises stretch your muscles and can help your body stay limber

If you have not been active, you can start slowly and work up to your goal. How much exercise you need depends on your age and health. Check with your health care provider on what is right for you.

NIH: National Institute on Aging

Start Here

• Exercise and Physical Activity (National Institute on Aging)
• Exercise and Physical Activity for Healthy Aging: Get Fit for Life (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• How Older Adults Can Get Started with Exercise (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
• Physical Activity for Older Adults: An Overview (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Real-Life Benefits of Exercise and Physical Activity (National Institute on Aging)
• You're Never Too Old: Keep Active as You Age (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Qigong: What You Need To Know (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
• Tai Chi: What You Need to Know (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
• Yoga: Effectiveness and Safety (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)

Related Issues

• Exercise and Physical Activity Worksheets (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
• Find Your Starting Point: Activity Log (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Finding the Right Fitness Shoes and Clothes (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
• Fun Ways for Older Adults to Stay Physically Active (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
• Health Tips for Older Adults (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
• Safety Tips for Exercising Outdoors for Older Adults (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Dr. Roger Fielding on Strength Training for Older Adults (National Institutes of Health)
• Exercise and Bone Health (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
• Exercise Helps Ease Arthritis Pain and Stiffness (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Exercising with Chronic Conditions (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
• Exercising with Osteoporosis: Stay Active the Safe Way (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Four Types of Exercise Can Improve Your Health and Physical Ability (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
• Staying Motivated to Exercise: Tips for Older Adults (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish

Health Check Tools

• Target Heart Rate Calculator (American Cancer Society)

Videos and Tutorials

• Balance Exercises for Older Adults (National Institute on Aging)
• Exercise Examples and Videos (Department of Agriculture)
• Go4Life (National Institute on Aging)
• Strength Building Exercises for Older Adults (National Institute on Aging)
• Stretching Exercises for Older Adults (National Institute on Aging)

Statistics and Research

• Many Types of Exercise Can Lengthen Older Adults' Lives (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Exercise for Older Adults (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Physical Fitness for Older Adults (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Association between physical activity levels and lower urinary tract symptoms: a...
• Article: Factors Influencing Patient Enrollment in a Community-based Physical Activity Program After...
• Article: The effectiveness of digital physical activity interventions in older adults: a...
• Exercise for Older Adults -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Definitions of Health Terms: Fitness (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

• American Heart Association
• Eldercare Locator (Administration for Community Living)
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• National Institute on Aging Also in Spanish
• President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)