A Report of the Surgeon General Physical Activity …

1 LOlder adults, both male and female, can benefit from regular Physical Activity need not be strenuous to achieve health adults can obtain significant health benefits with a moderateamount of Physical Activity , preferably daily. A moderate amountof Activity can be obtained in longer sessions of moderately intenseactivities (such as walking) or in shorter sessions of more vigorousactivities (such as fast walking or stairwalking).lAdditional health benefits can be gained through greater amountsof Physical Activity , either by increasing the duration, intensity, orfrequency. Because risk of injury increases at high levels of physi-cal Activity , care should be taken not to engage in excessiveamounts of Activity . lPreviously sedentary older adults who begin Physical Activity pro-grams should start with short intervals of moderate Physical activi-ty (5 10 minutes) and gradually build up to the desired adults should consult with a physician before beginning anew Physical Activity program.

2 LIn addition to cardiorespiratory endurance (aerobic) Activity , olderadults can benefit from muscle-strengthening activities. Strongermuscles help reduce the risk of falling and improve the ability toperform the routine tasks of daily loss of strength and stamina attributed to aging is in partcaused by reduced Physical increases with age. By age 75, about one in three menand one in two women engage in no Physical adults aged 65 years and older, walking and gardening oryard work are, by far, the most popular Physical support from family and friends has been consistently andpositively related to regular Physical Report of the Surgeon GeneralPhysical Activity and HealthOlder DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESC enters for Disease Control and PreventionNational Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionThe President s Council on Physical Fitness and SportsThe President sCouncil onPhysical Fitnessand SportsKEYMESSAGESFACTSlHelps maintain the ability to live independently and reduces therisk of falling and fracturing the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and ofdeveloping high blood pressure, colon cancer.

3 And help reduce blood pressure in some people with people with chronic, disabling conditions improve their stamina and muscle symptoms of anxiety and depression and fosters improve-ments in mood and feelings of maintain healthy bones, muscles, and control joint swelling and pain associated with community-based Physical Activity programs that offer aerobic, strengthening, and flexibility components specificallydesigned for older malls and other indoor or protected locations to provide safe places for walking in any that facilities for Physical Activity accommodate andencourage participation by older transportation for older adults to parks or facilities thatprovide Physical Activity health care providers to talk routinely to their olderadult patients about incorporating Physical Activity into their community activities that include opportunities for olderadults to be physically OFPHYSICALACTIVITYWHATCOMMUNITIESCANDOFo r more information contact.

4 Centers for Disease Control and PreventionNational Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionDivision of Nutrition and Physical Activity , MS K-464770 Buford Highway, NEAtlanta, GA 30341-37241-888-CDC-4 NRG or 1-888-232-4674 (Toll Free) President s Council on Physical Fitness and SportsBox SGSuite 250701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20004