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Critical Issues in the Health of the Elderly: The Role of Physical Activity1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Roy J. Shephard
Affiliation:
University of Toronto

Abstract

The potential role of physical activity in the primary, secondary, tertiary and quarternary treatment of disease is examined with particular reference to the health care needs of the elderly. Areas requiring further research are stressed. On present evidence, it would appear likely that enhanced physical activity could make a useful contribution to the containment of health care expenditures; however, it still has to be established how far the gains of physical condition and resultant improvements of health status that are seen in younger individuals could be realized by the various categories of geriatric patient.

Résumé

Nous examinons le rôle de l'activité physique dans le traitement primaire, secondaire, tertiaire et quaternaire de la maladie dans sa relation avec le besoin de soins médicaux chez les personnes âgées. Nous attirons l'attention sur les questions qui appelent encore des recherches. Dans l'état actuel de la question, il est raisonnable de penser que l'activité physique peut contribuer à la réduction du coût des soins médicaux. Cependant, il reste à établir si les diverses catégories de malades gériatriques sont en mesure de réaliser les progrès accomplis par les malades plus jeunes dans ce domaine.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1984

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