Exercise programme provides mobility benefits to all older people, experts find

All older people should exercise to enjoy mobility benefits, regardless of frailty, says research in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The effects of a three-year exercise programme were compared with those of a health education programme on older people’s risk for becoming frail. Over 1,600 older adults, aged 70 years to 89 years, who were not physically active and had functional limitations were included in the study; they had to be able to walk 400 metres unaided. Every six months the volunteers were assessed.

The risk for becoming frail did not differ between the groups and was not affected by how frail people were at the start of the study. And those who exercised had improvements in their ability to get up from a chair without using their arms. The authors conclude:

“These findings suggest that physical activity can benefit all older patients.”

Click here to read the original findings.

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