title: Exercise in the older adult: from the sedentary elderly to the masters athlete.
abstract: The diverse exercise goals of the aging population present several challenges to physicians. Whereas some Masters athletes aim to set personal time records, sedentary elderly persons may look to exercise to help maintain independence and combat functional decline. This review article examines the common cardiovascular and neuromuscular physiological changes associated with aging and how regular exercise is used to improve physiological parameters and functional abilities. Exercise precautions specific to the elderly population are discussed. Exercise recommendations for persons with osteoarthritis and after joint arthroplasty also are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Box 359721, 325 Ninth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. lgconcan@uw.edu
authors.forename: Leah G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Concannon
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Grierson
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Harrast
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000628:therapy; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D055070:Resistance Training; D018570:Risk Assessment