Sarcopenia refers to the loss of skeletal muscle mass with aging. It is thought to be associated with functional impairment and physical disability. Many elderly people suffer from physical disabilities as they age and continue to age. Most people are not born with a physical disabilities, but as you age and your bodies functions begin to deteriorate. Although the normal aging process is accompanied by declines in physical capacity, ' mobility, and endurance, which may result in the loss of independent living and muscle strength; physical activity among the elderly population may lower the number of elderly people at risk and suffering from a physical disability that seems to come along with aging. The cardiopulmonary system has received alot of attention, as it is involved with the most basic functions of everyday life. However healthy diet and simple workout may be proven to benefit your health in the future.
The study called Sarcopenia, Cardiopulmonary Fitness, and Physical Disability in Community-Dwelling Elderly People, questions whether muscle mass and physical activity in elderly people reduces the chance of developing a physical disability in the future. The study took 275 elderly people from the community about 150 were men and 125 were women over the age of 65 years. Severe sarcopenia associated with an increased chance of functional impairment and physical disability in the elderly from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). The study showed that strength and daily energy outflow (kcal/kg/day) were not considerably different between the participants with sarcopenia and those with normal skeletal muscle mass index. The odds ratio for physical disability between the participants with sarcopenia and those with normal Skeletal mass Index was 303 (95% confidence interval= 1.21-7.61). In conclusion sarcopenia was associated with physical disability in elderly men. There was only a casual relationship between physical activity, cardio fitness, physical disability and sarcopenia.
In the article obesity, intentional weight loss and physical disability in older adults, states that obesity in elderly people is correlated with physical disabilities. People with high BMI’s (body mass index) for your specific age and height may have a relationship with physical disabilities along with physical activity among people of the old age population. It also suggests that obesity by the age of 30 may be correlated and have an even greater risk of developing a physical disability in the future. However on the bright side physical activity can decrease the chances of obesity and lower your chances of developing a physical activity later in life.
So although it is difficult to define exactly why aging may increase the chances of developing a physical disability; physical activity, healthy eating habits while staying active as we continue to age may in fact lower your risk of developing a physical disability in the future. It is difficult to determine an exact amount of how much physical activity and healthy eating habits may contribute to the decrease in risk of developing a physical disability but it is shown that with effort and consistent exertion it is proven to help most individuals as we age.
References:
Rejeski, W.J., Marsh, A.P., Chmelo, E., Rejeski, J.J., Obesity, intentional weight loss and physical disability in older adults. Obesity Reviews; Sep2010, Vol. 11 Issue 9, p671-685, 15p, 3 Charts, 2 Graphs retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy1.lib.umanitoba.ca/ehost/detail?vid=7&hid=107&sid=8961684a-474e-46a9-a48b-dc27fda7cdb1%40sessionmgr115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=53074137
Meng-Yueh Chien, Hsu-Ko Kuo, Ying-Tai Wu. Sarcopenia, Cardiopulmonary Fitness, and Physical Disability in Community-Dwelling Elderly People. Physical therapy. Sep2010, Vol. 90 Issue 9, p1277-1287, 11p, 4 Charts retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy1.lib.umanitoba.ca/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=111&sid=193cda49-315c-4791-936f-4e35ee7899e3%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=54326329db=aph&AN=54326329
-Autumn B.
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