Age, Exercise and the Musculo‐skeletal System

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

A striking cultural feature of most of Western society is the expectation that the elderly will become progressively more sedentary, increasingly indolent and gradually more febrile until they are eventually unable to cope for themselves. There is the perception that old people do not need to exercise to any great extent, that exercise may be harmful to the elderly and that older people in exercise are most unattractive. Advertising emphasises that exercise is for the young and encourages a belief that the elderly should take life easily as reward for a lifetime's work. Research into musculo‐skeletal structure and performance has clearly shown the necessity for high levels of exercise activity through the whole life span. Inactivity is associated with a decline in muscle bulk, strength and endurance; an increase in joint stiffness and a decline in the individual's ability to respond to rapid environment change. All of the above changes are markedly improved by exercise, even in the very elderly. This paper discusses current research into the effect of ageing and exercise on the musculo‐skeletal system of the body, and demonstrates the necessity for continued high levels of physical activity into old age.