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Exercise for Older Adults
 Safety First
If you are at high risk for any chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes, or if you smoke or are obese, you should check first with your doctor before becoming more physically active.
In general, men over 40 and women over 50 should check with their doctor before doing vigorous activity. Most older adults, regardless of age or condition, will do just fine in increasing their physical activity to a moderate level.
Consult your doctor if you have
- any new, undiagnosed symptom
- chest pain
- irregular, rapid, or fluttery heart beat
- severe shortness of breath
Consult your doctor if you have
- ongoing, significant, and undiagnosed weight loss
- infections, like pneumonia, accompanied by fever which can cause rapid heart beat and dehydration
- an acute blood clot
- a hernia that is causing symptoms such as pain and discomfort
Consult your doctor if you have
- foot or ankle sores that won't heal
- persistent pain or problems walking after a fall -- you might have a fracture and not know it
- eye conditions such as bleeding in the retina or a detached retina. Also consult your doctor after a cataract removal or lens implant, or after laser treatment or other eye surgery.
Consult your doctor if you have
- a weakening in the wall of the heart's major outgoing blood vessel called an abdominal aortic aneurysm
- a narrowing of one of the heart's valves called critical aortic stenosis
- joint swelling.
If you have had hip repair or replacement
- check with your doctor before doing lower-body exercises.
- don't cross your legs.
- don't bend your hips farther than a 90-degree angle.
- avoid locking the joints in your legs into a strained position.
Quiz 1. Men over 40 and women over 50 should check with their doctor before doing vigorous activity.
TRUE is the correct answer. In general, men over 40 and women over 50 should check with their doctor before doing vigorous activity. Most older adults, regardless of age or condition, will do just fine in increasing their physical activity to a moderate level.
2. Once your hips are repaired or replaced, you can do any exercise that doesn't hurt.
FALSE is the correct answer. If you have had hip replacement, check with your doctor before doing lower body exercises and don't cross your legs or bend your hips past a 90-degree angle.
3. A fluttery heartbeat and shortness of breath are normal reactions to vigorous activity.
FALSE is the correct answer. A fluttery heartbeat and shortness of breath are two symptoms that indicate you should check with your doctor before exercising. People who have been inactive a long time or have these symptoms should not start out with vigorous activities. They should work up to these activities gradually.
4. You should check with your physician before beginning an exercise program if you have had eye surgery.
TRUE is the correct answer. Check with your physician before beginning an exercise program if you have had a cataract removal or lens implant, or after laser treatment or other eye surgery. You should also check if you have other eye conditions like bleeding in the retina or a detached retina.
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