Benefit of physical exercise in the elderly people is enormous because it increases their musculo-skeletal functions and decreases osteoporosis. The cardiovascular system is stabilised and muscle stability and nutrition is maintained. Even physically active wheelchaired users have less morbidity than the inactive ones. Exercise and physiotherapy plays a very important role in disease as well. It is the key to recovery and rehabilitation in all orthopaedic, neurosurgical and rheumatological diseases.
Surgeons insist that the patients walk the very next morning of the surgery.
Even after an acute heart attack, unless there is a complication, patient is encouraged to start walking within eight hours. Gone are the days when a patient was made to lie like a log of wood for six weeks after a heart attack. How much is enough There are many recommendations available. The first principle is to get a good medical evaluation if somebody is starting the physical programme for the first time so that a pre-existing disease of some kind may be detected and taken care of. The above quoted study of the Harvard Alumini found that a person walking more than 20 km per week, or climbing more than 24 flights of stairs per week had significantly less strokes.