Additional health benefits can be gained through greater amounts of physical activity, either by increasing the duration, intensity, or frequency. Because risk of injury increases at high levels of physical activity, care should be taken not to engage in excessive amounts of activity. Older adults should consult with a physician before beginning a new physical activity program. Stronger muscles help reduce the risk of falling and improve the ability to perform the routine tasks of daily life. The loss of strength and stamina attributed to aging is in part caused by reduced physical activity.
Inactivity increases with age.
By age 75, about one in three men and one in two women engage in no physical activity. Among adults aged 65 years and older, walking and gardening or yard work are, by far, the most popular physical activities. Social support from family and friends has been consistently and positively related to regular physical activity. Helps maintain the ability to live independently and reduces the risk of falling and fracturing bones. Reduces the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and of developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.