Introduction
Health sustainability and reduction of muscular illness has been an alarming campaign among the elderly. This is the group of people above the age of sixty years who in most cases are retired and live alone. It is also notable that this group has limited activities on their schedule as they are not working and mostly live on their pension. This makes it essential to increase their physical activities and stabilize their emotional health. These activities involve walking, engaging in planned sports and playing, conducting household chores and leisure activities such as swimming, cycling and hiking. These activities can either be community organized, through a trained couch or personally initiated by the individual (Goldstein & Morrison, 2013). The tendency at which these activities are conducted should be regulated, to ensure that they get used to the routine, and the body remains fit.
The main aim is to retain and improve the cardiorespiratory system of this group and ensure their muscles are fit. Unfitness of the cardiorespiratory system has led to illness of severe diseases such as cardiac arrests, which can be costly to the patient and even lead to death. This can also be caused by an accumulation of fat in the body without regular physical exercise, to utilize such fats. Muscular fitness involves ensuring that the body remains stable and flexible thus muscles are not detached (Depp & Jeste, D2010). It also assists in improving the health status of some elderly people who have been diagnosed with other illnesses. Physical exercise enables the elderly to remain physically fit thus are independent to work on different activities other than relying on others.
Most elderly people have limited things to do in their lives which can lead to a depression state. Depression can result from analyzing and thinking of different things which in most cases are negative occurrences in their lives (Haber, 2003). Physical activities have, however, been proven to reduce such feelings of depression as they keep their minds preoccupied within this time. It also offers them something to plan, and look forward to thus making their lives interesting. Exercises also increase the cognitive functions of individuals especially among the elderly. This involves increasing their ability to successfully plan for different activities. It also offers them a chance to ignore irrelevant information, and thoughts in their lives which can cause depression. Physical activities have a positive effect of improving the mood of elderly people as it brightens up their lives (Campos, 2011). Getting in activities which they are well informed and enjoy can be used, to improve their moods making it a positive state in their lives.
There are, however, several limitations associated with such exercise among the elderly. Elderly people can be characterized as frail and weak especially on their bone joints thus vigorous exercise can cause fractures (Anderson, 2004). It is, therefore, essential for the trainer to limit the exercise to something compatible with their age. Exercise can also lead to discomfort among the elderly especially if the trainer does not understand the personality of the elderly.
Conclusion
Physical activities have diverse advantages among the elderly which includes both healthy issues and emotional or mental stability. It is possible to deal with the emotional health of the elderly including depression, and mood swings using physical activities. It is, however, essential to note that these people should be involved in activities enjoyable to them. It is also not healthy to overwork the frail bodies, thus a limit should be established regarding the activities to be done. This will highly reduce diseases both muscular and cardiac thus increase their mortality rate.
References
Anderson, N. B. (2004). Encyclopedia of health and behavior. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Campos, D. (2011). Jump start health!: Practical ideas to promote wellness in kids of all ages. New York: Teachers College Press.
Depp, C. A., & Jeste, D. V. (2010). Successful cognitive and emotional aging. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub.
Goldstein, N. E., & Morrison, R. S. (2013). Evidence-based practice of palliative medicine. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Saunders.
Haber, D. (2003). Health promotion and aging: Practical applications for health professionals. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
