Chapter 3 - Physical and Physiological Considerations of Aging Flashcards
Define aging:
The natural decline of an organism due to internal physiological degeneration.
What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?
The nervous system has two major divisions:
- The central nervous system
- The peripheral nervous system
What is included in the central nervous system?
The central nervous system (CNS) includes:
- Brain
- Spinal cord
- Nerves
What is included in the peripheral nervous system?
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is comprised of the nerves that connect the CNS with organs, muscles, and skin.
Break down the peripheral nervous system into its distinct branches:
- Peripheral nervous system includes sensory and motor nerves.
- The motor nerves are categorized as somatic or autonomic.
The somatic system is under conscious or voluntary control.
The autonomic system is under involuntary or unconscious control. - The autonomic nervous system breaks down into two: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
The autonomic system regulates:
The autonomic system regulates various body processes unconsciously, including blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, digestion, and control of the fight-or-flight response.
The somatic system controls:
The somatic (or voluntary) system consists of nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord with muscles and sensory receptors in the skin and is associated with voluntary control of body movements.
The somatic nervous systems are a two-way communication system; sensory nerves transmit information from the periphery to the spinal cord and brain while motor nerves transmit information back to the muscles to stimulate movement.
Age-related changes in the nervous system fall under three areas:
- Structural
- Sensory
- Behavioral.
Fill in the blank: There is an average of ___ decrease in brain matter per year with age.
1%
How does aging affect neurons?
- Aging results in the loss of neurons within the brain, a decrease in total brain volume, and a decrease in the number and size of neuron branches (dendrites) and the covering of the nerve that transmits electrical signals from one cell to the next called myelin.
- Aging alters the primary communication structures between neurons, causing a reduction in the amount and speed of transmission and resulting in the ability to connect with other neurons.
- A loss of nerve function and communication with other nerves that control movement and other physiological functions can have a significant impact on quality of life (QOL) and exercise capacity.
How is orthostatic hypotension related to the nervous system?
Aging effects communication within the CNS and PNS via neurotransmitters such as dopamine, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine.
For example, many older adults suffer from ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION, which is a significant drop in blood pressure when a person rises from a lying position to a standing position. This is a result of the heart and blood vessel’s decrease in sensitivity to norepinephrine
Where does proprioception primarily diminish?
Proprioception diminishes with aging primarily at the foot and ankle, which has implications for balance, mobility, and risk for falls
What to do if a client complains of persistent foot, ankle, or musculoskeletal pain:
If a client complains of persistent foot, ankle, or musculoskeletal pain that does not resolve with corrective exercise and rest, recommend a podiatrist or a specialty shoe dealer. The modification of footwear may alleviate persistent foot and musculoskeletal pain.
What are the two most common sensory changes for the older client?
What does an active older adult typically also experience?
Vision and hearing impairments.
The active older adult also experiences thermoregulation changes resulting in altered responses to exercise in the heat and cold
Primary changes in vision include the following:
- Decrease in visual acuity: For older adults, it is more likely that visual acuity will decrease to 20/70.
- Farsightedness: This is the inability to see close objects or small print. The flexibility of the lens of the eye decreases as the body ages. This loss of flexibility causes the focal point of vision to change.
- Change in color perception: As the lens of the eye becomes more rigid and less clear, adults begin to have difficulty distinguishing similar colors.
- Increased time to adjust to changing light conditions: A yellowing of the lens of the eye is the cause of this condition. This results in requiring more time to adjust to changing light conditions.
Safety Recommendations to Accommodate Vision Issues:
- Use large print for handouts or exercise instructions.
- Verbally review written instructions on equipment with older clients. When using upright cardiovascular training equipment, always use the emergency shut-off clips.
- Use brightly colored tape to increase color contrast when possible. Apply tape to objects that may pose a hazard, especially high or low objects such as a lat pulldown bar or Bosu that may lead to a fall or injury.
- When communicating with an older client, do not stand in front of a bright light source such as a window or a bank of lights. Glare from the light source may make it difficult for the client to see clearly. For clients wearing bifocals, be careful during exercises that shift vision as it may be difficult to focus.
- If the exercise program involves a change in location with differing light conditions, allow the client to accommodate to the change in light before beginning new exercises.
Fill in the blank: More than ___ of people aged 65 or older have some degree of hearing loss.
What about people aged 75 or older?
Aged 65 or older: 30%
Aged 75 or older: 50%
Primary changes in hearing include the following:
- Conductive hearing loss: This results from the inability of sound waves to transmit effectively from the outer ear to the inner ear. Hearing aids can improve this problem, but they also amplify ambient noise from the surrounding environment.
- Sensorineural hearing loss: This is due to damaged structures of the inner ear. This may result in an extreme sensitivity to certain noises or cause a ringing or hissing sound in the ear. Hearing aids are not effective at treating sensorineural hearing loss.
Safety Recommendations to Accommodate Hearing Issues:
- Face the older client when speaking.
- Speak in a clear and slow manner.
- Do not shout.
- Speak to the client in a quiet area.
Safety Recommendations for Clothing:
- Encourage clients to dress in layers.
- Discourage clients from wearing baggy clothes that may get caught on equipment.
- Encourage clients to wear shoes with good shock-absorption qualities, a supportive arch, and a spacious toe box.
What causes thermoregulation challenges in older adults?
Thermoregulation in older clients is a concern during exercise due to a reduction in sweat response and poor circulation to the skin with age.
Reduced thermoregulation capacity in older adults may limit their ability to exercise in hot, humid, or cold environments. Due to these alterations in thermoregulation, health and fitness professionals must be aware of the signs of heat-related illness, even in controlled temperature conditions.
