Life Desk :
According to a new study, modest exercise can reduce the risk of death among the elderly. 5 minutes of physical activity for five days a week would be a suitable first target for the elderly.The findings reveal that 15 minutes of physical activity for five days a week would be a suitable first target for the elderly.
“The exercise could include brisk walking, cycling, swimming or gymnastics,” said David Hupin from the department of clinical and exercise physiology at the University Hospital of St-Etienne-Lyon, France.
“This message should be relayed by general practitioners, who play a key and essential role in promoting exercise behaviour in the elderly,” Hupin added.
While quarter of an hour is enough for the elderly in order to maintain good health, for the general population, a recommended exercise programme of 30 minutes, at least five days a week (or 150 minutes per week) has been shown to reduce the average risk of death by 30 percent.
