Exercise and Aging

Question 1

Primary aging

Answer 1

deterioration of physiological systems in the absence of confounding factors

Question 2

Secondary aging

Answer 2

effect of disease, environmental influences, and injury on the decline in functional capacity

Question 3

What happens to muscle fibers with age?

Answer 3

Decrease type II fibers making it harder for individuals to move
atrophy starts to occur

Question 4

What happens to VO2 max with age?

Answer 4

decreases

Question 5

What happens to functional reserve capacity?

Answer 5

Decreases

Makes exercise and ADL’s harder to accomplish

Question 6

What happens to the cardiac system with age?

Answer 6

decline in heart function contributes to decline in functional capacity
Max heart rate declines with age but resting heart rate is unchanged
Decrease heart rate + decrease stroke volume = decreased cardiac output

Question 7

What happens to the vascular system with age?

Answer 7

Increase vascular stiffness, increase TPR, increase afterload, decrease baroreceptor sensitivity
Makes the heart less electrically stable

Question 8

What does a faster pulse wave represent?

Answer 8

Stiff arteries

Question 9

What is the effect of decreased sensitivity with the baroreceptor?

Answer 9

1. Can’t increase MAP
2. Can’t increase HR
3. Exercise is negatively affected

Question 10

What happens to muscle strength with age?

Answer 10

Decrease strength 
Loss of muscle mass due to:
1. inadequate protein intake 
2. decrease in BMR (colder, smaller, won't tolerate much activity)
Greater loss in legs

Question 11

What happens to motor units with age?

Answer 11

Decrease and have fewer motor units per muscle fiber.
Muscle fibers are disappearing as well though
Start to degenerate

Question 12

What happens to the pulmonary system with age?

Answer 12

1. Decrease max inspiratory and expiratory pressures
2. Increase work of breathing due to decreased compliance and strength of respiratory muscles
3. Decrease diffusion capacity
4. Decrease arterial oxygen saturation

Question 13

What happens to bones with age?

Answer 13

Osteoporosis

1. menopause increases risk
2. decrease bone formation

Question 14

What happens to body composition with age?

Answer 14

1. Decrease fat free weight and increase fat weight

2. changes here lead to changes in basal metabolic rate

Question 15

What does physical activity do for elderly individuals?

Answer 15

Resistance training:

1. increases BMR
2. Decreases fall risk
3. Decrease insulin resistance
4. increase bone health
5. increase glucose tolerance

Question 16

What is the key factor of difference between men and women with exercise?

Answer 16

a-vO2 difference

women are lower

Question 17

What does cardiovascular exercise do for elderly individuals?

Answer 17

1. decrease insulin response
2. increase glucose tolerance
3. decrease blood pressure
4. Improve blood lipids - increase HDL and lower total cholesterol
5. improve body composition