This provides further support for encouraging moderate activity in middle-aged and older adults. Strength, flexibility and prevention of falls in the elderly Physical activity is commonly seen as a means of maintaining strength and vigour, and staving off the functional declines of ageing. Muscle strength is closely related to functional capacity, and has consistently been found to improve as a result of progressive resistance training. 18 Resistance training techniques include using gymnasium equipment and elastic tubing, home-based exercise and even walking. Strength-building programs have additional benefits, such as improving mobility and balance and aiding in weight maintenance.
Physical activity can help improve balance.
This in turn helps older people by improving mobility and functional capacity, and reducing the risk of falls and injuries. Regular, gentle exercise classes, involving aerobic, strength, balance and coordination activities, improve balance when undertaken twice weekly over 12 months. Even a supervised program of gentle exercise such as tai chi may help to maintain balance. 20 Flexibility is another domain of physical performance that is necessary for daily activities such as climbing stairs, rising from a chair or bed, or walking. The evidence is less clear here, but some studies have shown yoga and flexibility training, supervised aerobics classes and walking and upper-body training can benefit flexibility.