Exercise for the Elderly : การออกกำลังกายสำหรับผู้สูงอายุ

Abstract

          Thailand is stepping into the aging society. The elderly has been mentioned as the age of physical and mental degeneration. The important method for degeneration retardation is the exercise which composed of 4 patterns; exercise for increasing the blood circulation, strengthening and endurance of muscles and joints, stretching and for balance training. The elderly should properly select an exercise pattern based on their physical condition. For example, the elderly with cardiovascular problem should do exercise like swimming, running, cycling, fast walking, aerobics, nine-square dancing, yoga and qigong. The elderly with respiratory system problem should perform swimming, running, aerobics, nine-square dancing, yoga and qigong. The elderly with diabetes should perform running and arm swing. The elderly with osteoarthritis should perform swimming, static cycling and resistance band. The elderly with balance problem should perform fast walking, static cycling, resistance band, aquatic exercise, dancing, yoga and qigong. The elderly with dementia should perform cycling while the elderly with depression should perform yoga and qigong. Finally, choosing the proper exercises based on the physical condition of the elderly will help in degeneration retardation, promoting better health and getting no injury from the exercise.

          Keywords : Elderly, Exercise