QA Forum
Physical Activity
We were discussing Physical Activity
With Keith Hill, Pauline Brooks and Helen Palethorpe
Research tells us that 'wellness' in older people will be improved and maintained if you participate in physical activity on a regular basis. There are many different physical activity programs out there that you can participate in, such as gentle physical activity, including Tai Chi and walking, recreational activities such as bowls, tennis and golf, as well as community activities, such as Clean up Australia Day, and walkathons. Even cleaning your house is great physical activity!
Daily physical activity has proven to increase your quality of life, allowing you to learn new and exciting things all the time. It is also a great way to meet new people or spend time with family and friends. Keeping up daily physical activity and exercising on a regular basis will help you meet the demands of your daily life, and is also a perfect excuse to get out of the house and into the fresh air.
And don’t forget that a good amount of physical activity plus good food equals a happy health life!
Without regular physical activity, people over the age of 50 years can experience a range of health problems, including: heart problems, poor circulation or weakening of the bones, which could lead to bigger problems down the track, if a fall was to occur.
‘Physical activity’ is an important part of health and safety for all people over the age of 50.
If you would like to ask one of our panel members a question on any aspect of physical activity, please do so. You can also have a read through the following questions and answers and view a short background to each of our panel members: Keith Hill (National Ageing Research Institute), Pauline Brooks (Active Ageing South Australia) or Helen Palethorpe (The Young Men's Christian Association, Canberra). There is a list of useful resources for further information and available services to help you find the information that you are looking for.
The following questions were answered:
| Question 1: | Can anyone help? I'm currently live in an aged care home and was wondering how to go about organising someone to come and conduct some exercise classes for us. | View Answer |
| Question 2: | I think it would be a great idea to start some kind of community exercise programme for me and my friends. Most of us are over the 60 mark and just need a bit of motivation to get us going. Any advice on how we could best set something up? | View Answer |
| Question 3: | What is the recommended amount of time that I should be spending on exercise and how often should I be doing it? I'm 62 and feel quite active but don't want to be over doing it. | View Answer |
| Question 4: | How do I get into exercise? | View Answer |
| Question 5: | I am 78 and am feeling a little unsteady on my feet (no falls, but a number of near misses). Are there any exercises I can do to help my balance? | View Answer |
| Question 6: | I have a 'frozen shoulder' and can’t lift the arm above my head. I am feeling depressed and lethargic with the pain that just doesn’t seem to want to go away. What can I do to improve my condition? | View Answer |
| Question 7: | I have been keeping fairly active (walking several kilometres each day) until three months ago, when I had a major operation (stomach surgery), and have been slowly recovering since. My family are telling me that I should just rest, but I want to get back to regular walking. What is your advice? | View Answer |
| Question 8: | I hear so many mixed messages about exercise that it can get confusing! Why is exercise so important, for me being over 60? | View Answer |
| Question 9: | My doctor has advised me to start exercising but I’m not sure what sort of exercise is best. I’m worried about hurting myself. I am 78. | View Answer |
