Advertisement

Introduction: New Paradigms of Active Ageing

  • Gonçalo Nuno Figueiredo Dias
  • Micael Santos Couceiro
  • Polybio Serra e Silva
  • Maria António Castro
  • Maria Aurora Branquinho
  • Rui Mendes
  • Inês Cláudia Rijo de Carvalho
Chapter
First Online:
Part of the SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research book series (BRIEFSWELLBEING)

Abstract

The main purpose of this chapter is to describe active ageing as a continuous and unavoidable process. An integrated and holistic approach is needed, which highlights the advantages of psychomotricity and gerontomotricity. Such an approach can decrease physical and social isolation in the elderly, and even help them to find their affordances. Therefore, their opportunities for socialization and recreation can be increased. Elderly quality of life stretches beyond the physical and biological dimensions. Healthy ageing presupposes a dynamic balance between body, cognition and affection. The elderly think, feel and move differently. Therefore, they require special care concerning their physical activity and the management of the organic, nutritional and physiological aspects that affect their ageing bodies. From this perspective, the topic of active ageing comprehends healthy lifestyles and physical activity. These recommendations, which are widely known in Western societies, aim to prevent disease and promote health. In addition, active ageing, in the broad sense, should assume a paradigm shift that adequately responds to aspects related with the increase in longevity, quality of life and health among the older people. According to the state of the art, physical activity can play a crucial role in the protection against age-related morbidity and in the increase of longevity. Regardless of the age when physical activity starts, changes in sedentary patterns, even among those older than 85, can substantially reduce mortality and functional disability. The adaptations introduced in the movement, if performed adequately, may contribute to improve not only individuals’ health, but also their quality of life. Finally, physical activity may effectively improve ability by improving several functions of the body, such as strength, flexibility, resistance and general physical aptitude. However, it is necessary to adapt physical activity recommendations to older people, in order to cater for their specific needs. It is also essential to use several types of exercise which can correct or improve the functional limitations identified.

Keywords

Active ageing Physical activity Quality of life Health 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). (2010). ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. Philadelphia Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams Wilkins.Google Scholar
  2. Beauchamp, M. K., et al. (2010). Interval versus continuous training in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease—a systematic review. Thorax, 65, 157–164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Bianchi, R., et al. (2011). Impact of a rehabilitation program on dyspnea intensity and quality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respiration, 81, 186–195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Blumenthal, J. A., et al. (1989). Cardiovascular and behavioral effects of aerobic exercise training in healthy older men and women. Journal of Gerontology, 44, 147–157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Borg, G. (1982). Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 14, 377–381.Google Scholar
  6. Bowling, A. (2007). Aspiration for older age in the 21st century: What is successful ageing? International Journal of Ageing and Human Development, 64(3), 263–297.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Buse, J. B., et al. (2007). Primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases in people with diabetes mellitus: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. Circulation, 115, 114–126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Cabral, M. V., & Silva, P. A. (2009). O Estado da Saúde em Portugal. Imprensa de Ciência Sociais: Lisboa.Google Scholar
  9. Cabral, M. V., & Silva, P. A. (2010). A Adesão à Terapêutica em Portugal—Atitudes e Comportamentos da População Portuguesa Perante a Prescrição Médica. Imprensa de Ciências Sociais: Lisboa.Google Scholar
  10. Cabral, M. V., Silva, P. A., & Mendes, H. (2002). Saúde e Doença em Portugal—Inquérito aos Comportamentos e Atitudes da População Portuguesa Perante o Sistema Nacional de Saúde. Imprensa de Ciências Sociais: Lisboa.Google Scholar
  11. Cabral, M. V., Ferreira, P. M., Silva, P. A., Jerónimo, P., & Marques, T. (2013). Processos de envelhecimento em Portugal, Usos do tempo, redes sociais e condições de vida. Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos: Lisboa.Google Scholar
  12. Capucha, L. (2005). Envelhecimento e políticas sociais: Novos desafios aos sistemas de protecção. Protecção contra o “risco de velhice: Que risco?”. Porto: Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto.Google Scholar
  13. Castro, M .A. (2015). Importância da actividade física no processo de reabilitação. In G. Dias, R. Mendes, P. Serra e Silva, & M. A. Banquinho (Eds.), Envelhecimento activo e actividade física (pp. 101–119). Coimbra: Escola Superior de Educação de Coimbra.Google Scholar
  14. Celli, B. (1994). The clinical use of upper extremity exercise. Clinical Chest Medicine, 15, 339–349.Google Scholar
  15. Colberg, S. R., et al. (2010). Exercise and type 2 diabetes: The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Diabetes Association: Joint position statement. Diabetes Care, 33, 147–167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Comissão Europeia. (2012). Concretizar o Plano de Execução Estratégica da Parceria Europeia de Inovação para um Envelhecimento Ativo e Saudável. Brussels: European Commission.Google Scholar
  17. Coppoolse, R., et al. (1999). Interval versus continuous training in patients with severe COPD: A randomized clinical trial. European Respiratory Society, 14, 258–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Cruz, P. (2009). Envelhecimento Activo: Mudar o presente para ganhar o futuro. REAPN—Rede Europeia Anti-Pobreza.Google Scholar
  19. Cuoco, A., et al. (2004). Impact of muscle power and force on gait speed in disabled older men and women. Journal of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 59, 1200–1206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Dias, G., & Mendes, R. (2013). Atividade Física para a Terceira idade. Coimbra.Google Scholar
  21. Dias, G., Mendes, R., Serra e Silva, P., & Banquinho, M.A. (2014). Envelhecimento Activo e Actividade Física. In G. Dias, R. Mendes, P. Serra e Silva, M. A. Banquinho (Eds.). Coimbra: Escola Superior de Educação de Coimbra.Google Scholar
  22. Dias, G., Mendes, R., Serra e Silva, P., & Banquinho, M.A. (2015). Gerontomotricidade: Actividades lúdicas e pedagógicas para o corpo envelhecido. In G. Dias, R. Mendes, P. Serra e Silva, M. A. Banquinho (Eds.). Coimbra: Escola Superior de Educação de Coimbra.Google Scholar
  23. Fernández-Ballesteros, R. (2002). Social Support and Quality of Life Among Older People in Spain. Journal of Social Issues, 58(4), 645–659.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Fernández-Ballesteros, R., Garcia, L. F., Abarca, D., Blanc, E., Efklides, A., Moraitou, D., et al. (2010). The concept of ‘ageing well’ in ten Latin American and European countries. Ageing & Society, 30, 41–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Fiatarone, M. A., et al. (1990). High-intensity strength training in nonagenarians. Effects on skeletal muscle. Jama, 263, 3029–3034.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Fleg, J. L., & Lakatta, E. G. (1988). Role of muscle loss in the age-associated reduction in VO2 max. Journal of Applied Physiology, 65, 1147–1151.Google Scholar
  27. Fonseca, A. M. (2005). Desenvolvimento Humano e Envelhecimento. Climepsi Editores: Lisboa.Google Scholar
  28. Gibala, M. J., et al. (2012). Physiological adaptations to low-volume, high-intensity interval training in health and disease. Journal of Physiology, 590, 1077–1084.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. Holland, A. E., et al. (2012). Breathing exercises for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 10, CD008250.Google Scholar
  30. Jonsson, P. V., et al. (1990). Hypotensive responses to common daily activities in institutionalized elderly. A potential risk for recurrent falls. Archives of Internal Medicine, 150, 1518–1524.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Kenner, T. (1991). Exercise in Health and Disease: Evaluation and Prescription for Prevention and Rehabilitation. Philadelphia W. B. Saunders.Google Scholar
  32. Kernan, W. N., et al. (2014). Guidelines for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: A guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke, 45, 2160–2236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  33. Keysor, J. J. (2003). Does late-life physical activity or exercise prevent or minimize disablement? A critical review of the scientific evidence. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 25(3 Suppl 2), 129–136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. King, A. C., & Guralnik, J. M. (2010). Maximizing the potential of an aging population. JAMA, 304, 1944–1945.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Lee, F., Mackenzie, L., & James, C. (2008). Perceptions of older people living in the community about their fear of falling. Disability and Rehabilitation, 30(23), 1803–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Lima, A. M. (1999). A Gestão da Experiência de Envelhecer em um Programa para a Terceira Idade. Centro de Referência e Documentação sobre Envelhecimento, da Universidade Aberta da Terceira Idade—UnATI, 2(2), 22–63.Google Scholar
  37. Lobo, A., et al. (2011). Comparison of functional fitness in elderlies with reference values by Rikli and Jones and after one-year of health intervention programs. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 51, 111–120.Google Scholar
  38. Magalhães, E. E. (2005). Envelhecimento Demográfico Novos Desafios, Workshop—UTAD. Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Escola Superior de Saúde.Google Scholar
  39. McCarthy, B., et al. (2015). Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2, CD003793.Google Scholar
  40. McGuire, D. K., et al. (2001). A 30-year follow-up of the Dallas Bedrest and Training Study: I. Effect of age on the cardiovascular response to exercise. Circulation, 104, 1350–1357.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. Nations, U. (2001). World Population Ageing: 1950–2050. Department of Economic and Social Affairs: Population Division, Magnitude and Speed of Population Ageing, 11–13.Google Scholar
  42. Neda, A., Silversein, M., & Parker, M. G. (2011). Late-life and earlier participation in leisure activities: Their importance for survival among older persons. Adaptation and Aging, 35(3), 210–222.Google Scholar
  43. Nelson, M. E., et al. (2007). Physical activity and public health in older adults: Recommendation from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 39, 1435–1445.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  44. O’Hara, W., et al. (1984). Weight training and backpacking in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respiratory Care, 29, 1202–1210.Google Scholar
  45. Oliveira, B. (2008). Psicologia do Envelhecimento e do Idoso. LivPsic: Porto.Google Scholar
  46. OMS. (2001). Active ageing: A policy framework. Genève.Google Scholar
  47. OMS. (2002). Rumo a uma linguagem comum para Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde.Google Scholar
  48. OMS. (2005). Envelhecimento Activo: Uma política de saúde.Google Scholar
  49. ONU (1998). Department of economic and social affairs: World population projections to 2150.Google Scholar
  50. ONU (2001). Department of economic and social affairs: World population prospects: The 2000 Revision.Google Scholar
  51. Pahor, M., et al. (2006). Effects of a physical activity intervention on measures of physical performance: Results of the lifestyle interventions and independence for Elders Pilot (LIFE-P) study. Journal of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 61, 1157–1665.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  52. Paúl, C. (2005). Envelhecimento activo e redes suporte social. Revista Sociologia, 15, 275–287.Google Scholar
  53. Pollock, M. L., et al. (1991). Injuries and adherence to walk/jog and resistance training programs in the elderly. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 23, 1194–1200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  54. Province, M. A., et al. (1995). The effects of exercise on falls in elderly patients. A preplanned meta-analysis of the FICSIT Trials. Frailty and injuries: Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques. JAMA, 273, 1341–1347.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  55. Puhan, M., et al. (2009). Pulmonary rehabilitation following exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1, CD005305.Google Scholar
  56. Puhan, M. A., et al. (2006). Interval versus continuous high-intensity exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 145, 816–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  57. Quintela, M.J. Grupo de Intervenção comunitária (GIC) -Idosos da Fundação Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Howell, F., Riniotis, K., Beech, R., Crome, P., & Ong, B.N. (2009). Older people and falls: Health status, quality of life, lifestyle, care networks, prevention and views on service use following a recent fall. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18(16), 2261–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  58. Ries, A. L., et al. (1988). Upper extremity exercise training in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chest, 93, 688–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  59. Ries, A. L., et al. (2007). Pulmonary rehabilitation: Joint ACCP/AACVPR evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Chest, 131(5 Suppl), 4S–42S.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  60. Ringbaek, T., et al. (2008). Rehabilitation in COPD: The long-term effect of a supervised7-week program succeeded by a self-monitored walking program. Chronic Respiratory Disease, 5, 75–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  61. Serra e Silva, P (2012). Aprender a Não Ser Velho. Coimbra.Google Scholar
  62. Serra e Silva, P., Dias, G., Branquinho, M. A., & Mendes, R. (2015). Envelhecimento activo. In G. Dias, R. Mendes, P. Serra e Silva, & M. A. Banquinho (Eds.), Envelhecimento activo e actividade física (pp. 1–21). Coimbra: Escola Superior de Educação de Coimbra.Google Scholar
  63. Shephard, R. (1989). Habitual physical activity levels and perception of exercise in the elderly. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, 9, 17–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  64. Sherrington, C., et al. (2004). Physical activity interventions to prevent falls among older people: Update of the evidence. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 7, 43–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  65. Sparling, P. B., et al. (2015). Recommendations for physical activity in older adults. BMJ, 350, h100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  66. Spirduso, W. W. (2005). Physical dimensions of aging (2nd ed.). Champaign: Human Kinetics.Google Scholar
  67. Stella, A. (2008). O Envelhecimento em Portugal no século XXI: Contributos e Reflexões de Prospectiva Demográfica. Revista Cadernos de Economia, 84, 1–10.Google Scholar
  68. Stessman, J., et al. (2009). Physical activity, function, and longevity among the very old. Archives of Internal Medicine, 169, 1476–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  69. Takahashi, T., et al. (2002). Influence of cool-down exercise on autonomic control of heart rate during recovery from dynamic exercise. Frontiers of Medical and Biological Engineering, 11, 249–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  70. Wolf, S. L., et al. (1996). Reducing frailty and falls in older persons: An investigation of Tai Chi and computerized balance training. Atlanta FICSIT Group. Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative studies of intervention techniques. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 44, 489–497.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  71. Wolfson, L., et al. (1996). Balance and strength training in older adults: Intervention gains and Tai Chi maintenance. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 44, 498–506.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  72. Zainuldin, R., et al. (2011). Optimal intensity and type of leg exercise training for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 11, CD008008.Google Scholar
  73. Zijlstra, G. A., van Haastregt, J. C., van Rossum, E., van Eijk, J. T., Yardley, L., & Kempen, G. I. (2007). Interventions to reduce fear of falling in community-living older people: A systematic review. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 55(4), 603–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© The Author(s) 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Gonçalo Nuno Figueiredo Dias
    • 1
  • Micael Santos Couceiro
    • 2
  • Polybio Serra e Silva
    • 3
  • Maria António Castro
    • 4
  • Maria Aurora Branquinho
    • 3
  • Rui Mendes
    • 5
  • Inês Cláudia Rijo de Carvalho
    • 6
  1. 1.Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education (CIDAF)University of CoimbraCoimbraPortugal
  2. 2.Ingeniarius, LtdCoimbraPortugal
  3. 3.Center Delegation of Portuguese Cardiology FoundationCoimbraPortugal
  4. 4.Coimbra School of Health TechnologyPolytechnic Institute of Coimbra (ESTeSC)CoimbraPortugal
  5. 5.Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra (ESEC.IPC)CoimbraPortugal
  6. 6.Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and TourismUniversity of AveiroAveiroPortugal

Personalised recommendations

Cite chapter

Buy options