Exercise and Aging

Editorials1 November 1986Exercise and AgingERIC B. LARSON, M.D., M.P.H., ROBERT A. BRUCE, M.D.ERIC B. LARSON, M.D., M.P.H., ROBERT A. BRUCE, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-105-5-783 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptHealth practices that offer the possibility of slowing age-related decline are attractive to an aging society. In the mid-20th century, most medical literature on the health effects of exercise focused on the relationship to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (1, 2). Of equal importance is the potential for regular exercise to preserve function and prolong active life expectancy (3), not just life expectancy.Aging is associated with structural changes and reduced function in cells and tissues of all organ systems. The functional limits of aerobic metabolism and the cardiovascular system can be defined by the maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) (4). In...References1. RENNIEHOLLENBERG DN. Cardiomythology and marathons [Editorial]. N Engl J Med. 1979;301:103-4. CrossrefGoogle Scholar2. RIGOTTITHOMASLEAF NGA. Exercise and coronary heart disease. Annu Rev Med. 1983;34:391-412. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. KATZBRANCHBRANSONPAPSIDEROBECKGREER SLMJJD. Active life expectancy. N Engl J Med. 1983;309:1218-24. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. BRUCEKUSUMIHOSMER RFD. Maximal oxygen intake and nomographic assessment of functional aerobic impairment in cardiovascular disease. Am Heart J. 1973;85:546-62. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. ASTRAND P. Physical performance as a function of age. JAMA. 1968;205:729-33. CrossrefGoogle Scholar6. ROBINSON S. Experimental studies of physical fitness in relationship to age. Arbeitsphysiologie. 1938;10:251-323. Google Scholar7. DEHNBRUCE MR. 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LANEBLOCHJONESMARSHALLWOODFRIES NDHWPJ. Long-distance running, bone density, and osteoarthritis. JAMA. 1986;255:1147-51. CrossrefGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: ERIC B. LARSON, M.D., M.P.H.; ROBERT A. BRUCE, M.D.Affiliations: University of Washington Seattle, Washington PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byExercise and AgingNICHOLAS E. DAVIES, M.D. 1 November 1986Volume 105, Issue 5Page: 783-785KeywordsAgingBone densityCellsOsteoarthritisOxygen consumptionRunning ePublished: 12 March 2020 Issue Published: 1 November 1986 PDF downloadLoading ...