Posted on 11/07/2014 8:58:36 AM PST by shove_it
(Reuters Health) - Older adults could greatly benefit from breaking up their sedentary time throughout the day, even if it's just shifting from sitting to a standing position, according to a new study.
"As a general finding, older adults should make nine interruptions for every hour spent in sedentary behavior," said Luís B. Sardinha of the Exercise and Health Laboratory at the University of Lisbon in Portugal.
"In fact, just the act of standing-up can be a path to achieve an improved physical function in older ages," said Sardinha, who led the study. Past studies have also suggested that being sedentary may prompt a cascade of changes in unused muscles that can negatively affect overall health. So the study team set out to see whether just getting up – not engaging in major physical exercise, just moving or standing to activate the muscles – might counteract the effects of being sedentary.
They tracked both physical activity and sedentary behavior in 215 adults between 65 and 94 years old using small accelerometers each participant wore on their hip for four days.
The researchers also assessed the participants’ physical functioning with a group of tests that measure strength, endurance, agility, balance and flexibility, all of which are considered important to maintaining independence later in life.
Then the study team looked at how sedentary behavior, taking breaks in sedentary behavior and moderate to vigorous physical activity were associated with physical functioning.
They found, as other studies have done, that moderate to vigorous physical activity was linked to better physical function.
About two thirds of the participants did some kind of regular exercise, most in an organized program geared to older adults, where they worked out two to three times a week, Sardinha said...
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Well, that's about how often one has to go to the bathroom, so this seems like an easy assignment.
Get our circulation spedied up several times a day. We are so entrenched by our habits. Let us commit to doing all we can manage to walk around the block a few times a day. Change is possible, make new habits.
We make our habits and then our habits make us ... RIGHT?
Spokeshave (who is not in this photo) but at 72 works out with a 200lb tractor tire.
Sounds like a fascinating activity.
I’m 69 years old and I do my exercises every day. Every morning when I wake up it’s up, down, up, down. Ten repetitions.
Then I do my other eye lid the same way,
Once again some stupid, brain-dead study.
The body is a well-designed biological machine that must be used otherwise the parts start to weaken and deteriorate.
Same thing with any mechanical machine. You winterize your lawn mower in an attempt to try and protect it against non-use over the winter months. A car or an airplane that just sits in a garage or a hanger deteriorates if left unused. The battery goes. The seals dry out. The gas goes stale and gums up.
Sheesh. Put the fork and the remote control down and move. It ain’t rocket surgery.
I get up and go outside every 10 minutes or so for a cigarette, in between those movements I get up few more times to go to the kitchen for another cup of coffee...does that count?
There is the strongest whiff of bovine excrement hovering over this study....
9 times PER HOUR???? Is granny going to jump up every 6 minutes? Not unless the fire ants got ahold of her....
LOL! I like your program.
Speaking for myself, I have a strong work ethic when it comes to being sedintary and I’m not interested in taking any breaks.
Is this what passes for news on yahoo?
Tax-chick covered that one pretty well at #4.
;o)
Does going to the fridge count?
Yup — so long as you don’t open the door.
I use similar machines one a week....have improved my muscle strength from between 75% and 125% in 20 weeks, depending on the muscle group.
Or if it’s in a large grocery store... the walking is good
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