Exercise and Physical Activity in Older Adults: A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17037448Keywords:
Physical activity, Elderly, Geriatrics, ExerciseAbstract
The aging process manifests as a natural decline in physical and cognitive functions in individuals. The increasing elderly population worldwide brings along challenges such as chronic diseases, dependency, and mobility issues, making efforts to enhance the quality of life for older adults essential. In this context, exercise stands out as an effective strategy for maintaining and improving the physical and cognitive capacities of elderly individuals. This study reviews research examining the effects of various types of exercise and intervention programs on the physical and cognitive health of older adults. As a review, studies were selected using "physical activity in older adults," "exercise in older adults," and "geriatrics" as keywords with several filters on the Web of Science and PubMed websites. After final filtering, 20 studies matching the criteria for this review were included in the analysis. Findings indicate that aerobic, resistance, and functional exercises of various intensities provide positive contributions to cognitive function, balance, strength, and quality of life in older individuals. Particularly, multicomponent exercise programs appear to bring significant improvements in both physical and psychosocial well-being. This study highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach to support exercise interventions aimed at maintaining and enhancing independent living capacity in older adults.
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