Being physically active lowers your risk for two types of cancer: colon and breast. Research shows that:
• Physically active people have a lower risk of colon cancer than do people who are not active;
• Physically active women have a lower risk of breast cancer than do people who are not active;
• Some findings suggest that your risk of endometrial cancer and lung cancer may be lower if you get regular physical activity compared to people who are not active.
If you are a cancer survivor, research shows that getting regular physical activity not only helps give you a better quality of life, but also improves your physical fitness.
As you age, it's important to protect your bones, joints and muscles. Not only do they support your body and help you move, but keeping bones, joints and muscles healthy can help ensure that you're able to do your daily activities and be physically active. Research shows that doing aerobic, musclestrengthening and bonestrengthening physical activity of at least a moderatelyintense level can slow the loss of bone density that comes with age.
If you have arthritis, research shows that doing 130 to 150 (2 hours and 10 minutes to 2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of moderateintensity, lowimpact aerobic activity can not only improve your ability to manage pain and do everyday tasks, but it can also make your quality of life better.
Muscle-strengthening activities can help you increase or maintain your muscle mass and strength. Slowly increasing the amount of weight and number of repetitions you do will give you even more benefits, no matter your age. If you're a physically active middleaged or older adult, you have a lower risk of functional limitations than people who are inactive. Aerobic and musclestrengthening activities can help improve your ability to do the everyday activities, such as climbing stairs, grocery shopping, or playing with your grandchildren.
Regular physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp as you age. It can also reduce your risk of depression and may help you sleep better. Research has shown that doing aerobic or a mix of aerobic and musclestrengthening activities 3 to 5 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes can give you these mental health benefits.
From: http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/health/. Accessed on 10/18/2014
Muscle-strengthening activities help old people:
