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.
Friendly competition motivates exercise
Once a year in May, the wellness directors at multiple Erickson Retirement Communities get together to plan a day that will motivate as many residents as possible to exercise. They calculate the mileage and time to travel among the communities, then challenge residents to "travel" that distance through exercise. This year the total mileage between all campuses was 1,163 miles; it would take 45,520 minutes to travel them. These numbers were the program goal.
moreProgram profiles
Fitness for golfers by Yung-Shen Tsai, PhD, PT, Timothy C. Sell, PhD, PT, and Scott M. Lephart, PhD, ATC
Golf offers a wide array of benefits that can be appreciated over the span of a lifetime. Fitness, recreation, socialization and competition are reasons why golf is attractive to older adults.
Unlike other sports, golfers play more and spend more on the game as they get older. According to a report from the US National Golf Foundation, senior golfers (over 50 years old) account for about 25% of the total golfer population-and this percentage is increasing. Older golfers are dedicated to the game; they play 50% of all rounds and account for 53% of all spending on golf
Exercise
Healthy weight resources
The National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), developed by Rena Wing, PhD. and James Hill, PhD., is a database of people who have self-reported a weight loss of 30 pounds or more and kept it off for at least a year.
moreWeight management
Find the feelings to inspire the reluctant exerciser by Ken Alan
Fitness, for most older individuals, is not a number or a measurement. Fitness is a sensation-it's a feeling. his concept hit like a ton of bricks while videotaping participant testimonials at the annual party for the "No Sweat" exercise class. he evidence was in the testimonials:
moreMotivation
Lesson plan for a balance class by Susan Bovre, M.A.
Maintaining balance is the result of a complex interaction of many systems and subsystems of the human body. With aging, changes occur that reduce the efficiency of these systems, which jeopardizes balance and increases the risk of falls.
moreBalance training
Weight loss approaches for older adults by Wayne L. Westcott, Ph.D., C.S.C.S.
Most older adults don't understand that body weight represents 2 components, namely, fat weight and lean weight. Together, the fat weight and lean weight (muscle and bone) define body composition as well as body weight. People generally don't realize that their body composition is much more important than their body weight, and they have little knowledge about the body composition changes that accompany inactive aging.
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