Exercise and the Elderly: Guidelines and Practical Prescription Applications for the Clinician

•� Objective: T o review the components of exercise prescription and approaches to developing an exer­ cise prescription for older persons. •� Methods: Case studies and qualitative review of the literature. •� Results: Ef fective exercise programs specify the appropriate mode, intensity, duration, frequency, and progression of training. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, patients should partici­ pate in aerobic exercise 3 to 5 days per week, main­ taining target heart rate for 20 to 60 minutes. Resis­ tance training should be performed at least twice per week and should target the 7 major muscle groups. Proper technique is necessary and speed and breathing should be controlled. Incorporation of warm-up and cool-down sessions is recommended for exercisers of all ages and physical conditions. Increased lifestyle activity also should be encour­ aged. In prescribing exercise for older patients, nutrition must be closely monitored. The prescrip­ tion needs to be individualized, taking into consider­ ation the patient’s health status, nutritional intake, abilities, preferences, and resources. •� Conclusion: Physical activity should be encouraged in healthy seniors and should be considered a pri­ mary or adjunctive therapy in the treatment of chronic diseases associated with aging. Physician support of behavior changes is a major predictor of patient compliance.