ExRx Chapter 33- Older Adults

Exercise training can slow the progression of age-related ________ changes and can ______ some of those that have already occurred.

physiological, reverse

The study of the aging process 

gerontology

• Arthritis (49%)

• Hypertension (38%)

• Heart disease (31%)

• Hearing impairment (28%)

• Orthopedic problems (20%)

• Any cancer (20%)

• Diabetes (15%)

• The average 65-year-old has an additional life expectancy of 16-19 years.

disorders older adults struggle with

• decrease in thirst sense

• decrease in skin blood flow

• decrease sweat production per sweat gland

• Clinical significance → Risk of dehydration and heatstroke

effects of aging, thermoregulation

• ______ and ______ of _______ account for much of health care costs

falls and lack of balance

Only 20-25% of seniors; __ mins, _x/week. Sedentary lifestyle is to blame for decreases.  

physical activity, 30 mins, 5x/week

_______ in ________ is a complex problem involving such factors as these

• Lack of strength

• Vision problems

• Proprioception problems

• Medications

• Illnesses

• Reduced flexibility

• Environmental hazards

decrease in balance

• balance training,

• resistance exercises,

• walking, or

• weight transfer exercises.

fall resistance can be improved with

whats the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults ?

cardiovascular disease

• Aging in industrialized societies is typically accompanied by stiffening of the arterial tree.

  • Manifested clinically in increased SBP and unchanged DBP

• Left Ventricle undergoes a modest concentric wall thickening. 

• Reduction of early diastolic Left Ventricle filling rate.

• Because of these changes, older adults are more likely to develop signs and symptoms of heart failure if they develop atrial fibrillation.

pathophysiology in older adults

• Normal changes in maximal aerobic capacity and its determinants between ages 20 and 80

  • ________ ________↓ 50%

  • a-v ̅O2 difference ↓ 20%

  • _____ _____ ↓ 30%

  • _____ ______↓ 30%
    

oxygen consumption, cardiac output, heart rate

common complaints in older adults (3 of them)

joint pain, exertional dyspnea, angina in exercise if dealing with cvd

• Resting 12-lead ECG

• Additional CV diagnostic testing if clinically indicated      

diagnostic testing

• A condition in which one half of a patient's body is paralyzed 

  • Can be congenital or acquired, as from illness such as cerebral palsy or stroke 

hemiplegia

• A deficit in turning the ankle and toes upward, known as dorsiflexion. The result is an abnormal gait 

  • It is characterized by steppage gait. When the person with foot drop dances, the foot slaps down onto the floor. To accommodate the toe drop, the patient may use a characteristic tip-toe dance on the opposite leg, can cause extreme pain 

foot drop

• is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that often impairs the sufferer's motor skills, speech, and other functions.

  • Secondary symptoms may include high level cognitive dysfunction and subtle language problems. PD is both chronic and progressive.

parkinson’s disease

 is a neurological sign and symptom consisting of gross lack of coordination of muscle movements

ataxia

hunchback appearance. >45 degrees may effect lungs, nerves and cause pain. 

kyphosis

Emphysema – lungs chronically overinflated.

barrel chest

Pigeon chest.  Marfin syndrome, scoliosis.

pectus carinatum

Sunken chest.  May be present at birth.  May impair cardiac and respiratory function. 

pectus excavatum