Avoid ‘walking it off’
Many ‘older exercisers’ often only stick to one form of physical activity and risk missing out on some important health benefits, a new study reveals. Published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, researchers looked at the physical activity of more than 22,000 older Australians.
Many ‘older exercisers’ often only stick to one form of physical activity and risk missing out on some important health benefits, a new study reveals.
Published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, researchers looked at the physical activity of more than 22,000 older Australians.
The study, which focused specifically on those aged over 65 years, shows about two thirds of older people are exercising, with most of them favouring aerobic activity – usually walking.
Just over 45% of the participants reported walking as their preferred physical activity, with more than half of these people reporting walking as their sole activity. Only 2.6% of people reported a combination of balance, strength and aerobic (heart and lung fitness) activities.
Lead author of the study, Professor Dafna Merom, claims while walking is good for conditioning the heart and lungs, as people age, they need to do more than just protect the cardiovascular system.
“Walking may not provide optimal protection for other age related health conditions such as falls and injuries,” Professor Merom says.
Research has shown dance and tai chi may be better than traditional Western exercise or walking for maintaining cognitive function.
“We only have proof [of a protective effect against falls] for tai chi,” she says. “We know, however, that dance has great potential. Walking has not yet been shown to have a proven benefit for preventing falls.”
Walking also provides little protection against the weakening of bones in post-menopausal women, Professor Merom claims.
The study reveals walking is the most popular activity, followed by:
- bowls (9.4%)
- aerobics/callisthenics (9.1%)
- golf (7.7%)
- swimming (6.4%)
- gym workouts (5.2%)
- cycling (3.2%)
- tennis (2.9%)
- dancing (2.1%)
- fishing (2%)
