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Researchers discover physical activity is key to aging gracefully
OSU researchers published a study encouraging elderly people to exercise, be physically engaged, not to fear that such activity is dangerous
Caitlin Cagle
Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: News
According to a new study conducted by former OSU doctoral student Kin-Kit Li and OSU staff members Bradley Cardinal and Samuel Vuchinich, research has shown that the more older adults worry about their health, the less physically engaged they tend to be.
"We tend to use fear-inducing strategies to motivate people," said Cardinal, one of the study's coauthors. "When we do this with older people, it tends to have the opposite effect."
Using fear-inducing strategies to motivate the elderly into partaking of physical activity has negative effects. Older adults begin to worry about breaking bones or putting their health at risk.
"Older people who begin to use canes and such are probably afraid of breaking bones or hips. You don't see very many older people out playing football or anything because I think they have a fear of not living to their full lifespan," freshman Griffin Harger said.
The study shows that the more physically engaged older adults are, the better their health remains. Physical activity helps older adults remain mobile for far longer.
"[Fear-inducing strategies] scare older adults into thinking physical activity is dangerous; therefore they begin to believe they shouldn't do it, and they become more sedentary and their health begins to deteriorate at a quicker rate," Cardinal said.
Promoting health is often done by using the threat of premature deaths and disease to get people to promote physical activity. According to the study, the elderly are better motivated through positive influence.
"Being physically active is more important for their long-term health. So, with your grandparents or parents, try to build up a positive side of it instead of trying to induce fear," Cardinal said.
The standard recommendation for physical activity for elderly adults includes physical fitness five times a week, thirty minutes a day. The College of Health and Human Sciences offers older adults a wide range of physical activity courses to improve their health.
"We have a therapeutic water exercise class, which older people do if they have hip problems. We also offer a back clinic, a total body health fitness class and a bone-building fitness class, all of which are popular choices for older adults as well," said Stephanie Adams, a student in human development and family science.
Caitlin Cagle, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
"We tend to use fear-inducing strategies to motivate people," said Cardinal, one of the study's coauthors. "When we do this with older people, it tends to have the opposite effect."
Using fear-inducing strategies to motivate the elderly into partaking of physical activity has negative effects. Older adults begin to worry about breaking bones or putting their health at risk.
"Older people who begin to use canes and such are probably afraid of breaking bones or hips. You don't see very many older people out playing football or anything because I think they have a fear of not living to their full lifespan," freshman Griffin Harger said.
The study shows that the more physically engaged older adults are, the better their health remains. Physical activity helps older adults remain mobile for far longer.
"[Fear-inducing strategies] scare older adults into thinking physical activity is dangerous; therefore they begin to believe they shouldn't do it, and they become more sedentary and their health begins to deteriorate at a quicker rate," Cardinal said.
Promoting health is often done by using the threat of premature deaths and disease to get people to promote physical activity. According to the study, the elderly are better motivated through positive influence.
"Being physically active is more important for their long-term health. So, with your grandparents or parents, try to build up a positive side of it instead of trying to induce fear," Cardinal said.
The standard recommendation for physical activity for elderly adults includes physical fitness five times a week, thirty minutes a day. The College of Health and Human Sciences offers older adults a wide range of physical activity courses to improve their health.
"We have a therapeutic water exercise class, which older people do if they have hip problems. We also offer a back clinic, a total body health fitness class and a bone-building fitness class, all of which are popular choices for older adults as well," said Stephanie Adams, a student in human development and family science.
Caitlin Cagle, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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