Articles
The Journal on Active Aging brings articles of value to professionals dedicated to older-adult quality of life. Content sweeps across the active-aging landscape to focus on education and practice. Find articles of interest by searching the article archives in three ways: Enter a keyword in the articles search bar; click on search by topic; or type a keyword or phrase in the general search bar at the top of the page.
Topic- Program design
Encouraging friendships and social support by Elizabeth Best-Martini, M.S., and Kim A. Botenhagen-DiGenova, M.A.
Many older participants in physical activity live in settings other than their own private homes. This relocation may have altered their previous relationships with family and friends.
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Facilitating a mental aerobics class by Terry Fay, B.A.
Organizations that serve the health and wellness needs of older adults offer classes to help older adults stay physically fit. But are they presenting classes and workshops to help their older clients stay mentally fit as well? As part of Senior Lifestyle Corporation's (SLC) wellness programming, we offer classes I call "mental aerobics" because participants exercise their brains and get involved in the same way they do with a physical exercise class.
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Guiding principles for cardiac exercise programs
Ensure each client receives a medical clearance to participate in physical activity, then review this form. Also ask
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Cardiac rehabilitation: exercise for clients with heart disease by Reed Humphrey, Ph.D., P.T.
Since reaching epidemic proportions in the mid-20th century, deaths from heart disease have steadily declined in the United States. Still, heart disease accounts for approximately 40% of all deaths annually. In addition, the most recent statistics compiled by the American Heart Association suggest nearly 18 million people have coronary artery disease or chronic heart failure, with another 50 million diagnosed with high blood pressure
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Prescribing and developing strength training programs for older adults by Wayne T. Phillips, Ph.D., FACSM
In research publications, scientists increasingly report the safety and importance of strength training for older adults. Although this information is beginning to appear in the professional and lay press, it is slow in percolating down to the target population of older adults. National surveys show that less than 10% of people ages 65 years or older routinely engage in activities designed to maintain or increase strength. In individuals ages 75 and above, these numbers are even lower (Surgeon General's Report, 1996).
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Exercise intensity for older adults by Reed Humphrey, Ph.D., P. T.
Regular aerobic exercise, along with a sensible program of flexibility and resistance exercise, is valuable in reducing health risk, improving quality of life, prolonging functional independence and, possibly, increasing a person's life span. A variety of guidelines exist for individuals setting up exercise programs or modifying programs to maximize the physiological benefit. Among these guidelines, widespread agreement exists that the cardiovascular component of exercise should result in about 30 minutes of aerobic activity on most days of the week. To improve fitness, research suggests exercise on a minimum of three days per week; to manage weight, exercise on more days is necessary to increase the overall caloric effect, plus exercise duration should probably progress from 30 minutes to as much as one hour.
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