These data suggest that exercise may have similar anti-hypertensive effects in older individuals as those previously reported in younger populations. It is now well known that exercise training is associated with a reduction of coronary heart disease risk. These problems notwithstanding, there appears to be sufficient evidence to suggest that regular exercise is associated with a decrease in body fat which, in turn, is associated with a decrease in circulating lipids. However, the effect of exercise on blood lipids appears to be transient and blood lipids return to pre-exercise values within a few days of cessation of physical activity. Substantial improvements in almost all aspects of cardiovascular functioning have been observed following appropriate physical training.
Resistance training can have a significant impact on the maintenance of independence in old age.
Exercise which stimulates movement throughout the range of motion assists in the preservation and restoration of flexibility. Individuals who are regularly active can often postpone these age-related declines. The WHO Guidelines have been placed in the public domain and can be freely copied and distributed. Until fairly recently, strength training was seldom emphasized as a component of exercise programs designed for older adults. The lifting of heavy weights requires maximal or near maximal muscular contractions which, if incorrectly performed, can result in sharp increases in blood pressure due to a physiological mechanism known as the valsalva maneuver.