Healthy Lifestyles
Is that my Grandma on roller blades? Seniors and physical activity by Shelly Luhning
W
e have all heard it before – the importance of exercise! The benefits of physical activity for promoting health and preventing illness are well known – however, studies report that most seniors in Canada do not engage in enough activity to keep fit. Exactly how important is exercise once I am over 65? Should I even be exercising when I am over 65? What if I fall? What about my medical conditions? These are all questions that many seniors ask themselves. How important is physical activity if I am over 65? Research has clearly shown that physical activity improves muscle strength and endurance, aerobic capacity, blood pressure, flexibility, physical function, and blood lipids at any age. In the aging population, physical activity has also shown to be important for the health of muscles, bones, and joints, which can degenerate and cause a loss of general function if not exercised regularly. An exercise program consisting of walking, and strength, balance, and flexibility training can lead to a significantly slower decline in activities of daily living. This means you will
be less likely to need assistance with activities such as walking, bathing, getting dressed, and cleaning your home. Adequate daily physical activity is important for maintaining functional ability and independence as you age.
There is hope for those who have been waiting on the couch for the right time to start an exercise program: it’s never too late to start.
Physical activity not only has an important effect on physical health but also on mental health in older adults. Remaining active throughout your life can improve your cognitive function as you age. Exercising will help to keep your mind sharp. What if I fall? Many seniors worry about falls, therefore restrict the activities that they do. As you age, your tendency to fall increases, often with serious consequences. Recent studies offer some encouraging news – exercise may not only protect your bones, but also help keep you from falling in the first place. Seniors who have been physically active throughout their lives and remain so after retirement
have significantly better balance; therefore suffer fewer falls than those seniors who have a sedentary lifestyle. But wait! There is hope for those who have been waiting on the couch for the right time to start an exercise program: it’s never too late to start. Once a program is started your balance, coordination and muscle strength will improve thus decreasing the chance of a fall.
What about my medical conditions? Seniors have many concerns regarding existing health conditions. Perhaps medications are the concern, or you may just not be feeling well enough to do 30 minutes of exercise a day. Don’t worry! Small steps can be taken toward making physical activity part of your everyday routine. Be sure to speak to your doctor or other health professional before starting a new exercise plan. Although your health professional may give you some restrictions on an exercise program, they will also be able to assist you in finding a program that will meet your needs. Maybe it is as simple as changing one of your medications that is causing unwanted side effects. Physically active seniors are at a lower risk for morbidity, mortality, and loss of function than sedentary seniors. Physically active seniors also have improved sleep and quality of life. There are many ways to be active. Physical activity can be done at home, with friends or family, or in your community. My advice – get active so that you can stay healthy, live longer, sleep better and enjoy life! Shelly Luhning, R.N. BScN MN resides in Saskatoon.
DOES MY CHILD HAVE AMBLYOPIA? comfort engineered by New
Balance® AMBLYOPIA,
COMMONLY KNOWN AS LAZY EYE, IS THE LACK OF DEVELOPMENT OF VISION IN ONE EYE. THOUGH, IT IS NOT CAUSED BY ANY SPECIFIC HEALTH PROBLEM, APPROXIMATELY 4% TO 6% OF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 6 ARE AMBLYOPIC.
COMMON SIGNS OF AMBLYOPIA Usually, there are no symptoms of amblyopia. As only one eye is affected, the other tends to take over all the visual tasks. WHAT CAUSES AMBLYOPIA? A lack of connections between the brain and the eye can cause the eye to become amblyopic. Over time, the connections between the brain and the affected eye will be dramatically reduced, resulting in a large difference in the prescription between the two eyes.
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A SOLUTION TO AMBLYOPIA Amblyopia cannot be corrected by glasses or contact lenses. Treatment may involve covering the good eye so the brain is forced to recognize the amblyopic eye. This method of treatment will develop more connections between the brain and the affected eye and improve vision. The earlier this condition is diagnosed, the greater the chance for complete recovery. THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF OPTOMETRISTS RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING COMPREHENSIVE EYE HEALTH AND VISION EXAMINATION GUIDELINES:
INFANTS AND TODDLERS (2-5 MONTHS) - BY AGE 6 MONTHS PRESCHOOL (2-5 YEARS) - IMMEDIATELY, IF PARENTS SENSE A PROBLEM, OTHERWISE BY THE AGE OF 3 AND AGAIN PRIOR TO ENTERING SCHOOL SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN (6-19 YEARS) - ANNUALLY OR EVERY 2 YEARS OVER 19 YEARS OF AGE - EVERY 2 YEARS OR SOONER IF RECOMMENDED BY YOUR OPTOMETRIST
YOUR EYES DESERVE AN OPTOMETRIST!
Information taken from the Canadian Association of Optometrists pamphlet entitled “Amblyopia”
ROBINSON LORI DR. ORR BEVERLY DR. BARRIE DOROTHY L. DR. (InVision Eye Care Centre) #10-3110 8th St. E.
373-2234
www.invision-eyecare.ca PANCHUK O.E. DR. 204-129 3rd Ave. N.
665-6566 or 1-800-726-2485
www.opto.com/drpanchuk
MATZ CARLA M. DR. BRAUN DENNIS DR. PITEAU SHERYL DR. (Grosvenor Park Optometry) #35-2105 8th St. E.
373-8825
www.opto.com/grosvenorparkoptom
SALISBURY PAUL G. DR. DEGELMAN TYLER DR. HUTTON CLAUDE DR. HAYES CYDNEY SUSAN DR. (Salisbury, Degelman Vision Centre) 424-21st St. E.
SCHAMBER DARREN DR. (Vista Eyecare & Ware) 1112A Morgan Ave.
955-3811
www.vistaeyecare.ca
244-7959
244-7464
ROBINSON W. BRUCE DR. LUKENCHUCK DARCY DR. 1102 CN Tower
NAYLOR KENT DR. MURDOCH GREG DR. (8th Street Vision Centre) 103-3301 8th St. E.
www.robinsonlukenchuk.com
www.naylormurdoch.com
242-7170
KRUEGER JAMES A. DR. WILSON ROBERT DR. KENDALL TIM DR. (Fourth Avenue Vision Centre) 100-128 4th Ave. S.
955-2288
Saskatoon • w w w . t h e n e i ghbourhoodexpress.com
www.fourthavenuevisioncentre.com TOEWS WARREN DR. WALTERS AARON N. DR ZALESCHUK WALTER DR. #1 - 303 Stonebridge Bvld
664-2638
• October 21, 2009 • Section B
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