Articles
The Journal on Active Aging brings articles of value to professionals dedicated to older-adult quality of life. Content sweeps across the active-aging landscape to focus on education and practice. Find articles of interest by searching the article archives in three ways: Enter a keyword in the articles search bar; click on search by topic; or type a keyword or phrase in the general search bar at the top of the page.
Topic- Health conditions
Can strength training reverse the side effects of cancer treatment? by Ben Hurley, PhD, FACSM, and Erik Hanson, MA, CSCS
Professionals who promote active aging know that strength training offers important health benefits for older adults, from preserving or restoring physical function, and maintaining independence, to preventing or managing chronic medical disorders. But what do we know about the benefits of strength training for those who are undergoing cancer treatment?
moreHealth conditions
Sleep and the older adult by Diana M. Taibi, PhD, RN
Sleep disturbances are among the most common difficulties experienced by older persons. Over half of older adults in the United States experience insomnia symptoms several nights a week (National Sleep Foundation, 2002; Ohayon, Carskadon, Guilleminault & Vitiello, 2004). Compared to younger adults, older adults tend to:
· take longer to fall asleep,
· wake up more frequently at night,
· spend more time awake during the night,
· get less total sleep, and
· feel unrefreshed after sleeping.
Older adults may not report difficulty sleeping because they believe it is a normal part of aging, although current evidence supports that both younger and older adults need 7-9 hours of sleep.
Health conditions
The neck/shoulder connection by Dean Smith, BScPT
As a physical therapist, I frequently work with clients who experience pain and disability in the neck and shoulder region. What are the causes of these issues?
· Work injuries
· Car accidents
· Other trauma (falls, sport-related)
· Disease, especially arthritis
· Chronic poor postural habits at work, home and during sleep
When people suffer pain in this region of the body, I frequently observe postural issues and muscle imbalances. I can only speculate as to whether these were there prior to the onset of pain or if the dysfunctions developed afterward.
Health conditions
Outdoor exercise and air quality by Patricia Ryan, MS
When you listen to the nightly news or read the newspaper, you are likely to hear a short announcement of the air quality index. This number may be followed by a caution for people who are sensitive to air quality.
moreHealth conditions
Understanding hearing loss by Terry Portis, EdD
Hearing loss is an issue that is not currently on the national radar. The causes and consequences of hearing loss are not generally understood, and what people think they understand may be wrong. Even those who are themselves impacted by hearing loss may not fully grasp the significance and impact of this issue.
moreHealth conditions
Understanding vision loss By Martin S. Yablonski, Med
People who do not have normal vision, even with the help of eyeglasses or corrective lenses, are considered visually impaired. In aging adults, visual impairment is most often caused by eye disease, including age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, according to the (US) National Eye Institute.
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