Exercise intensity for older adults by Reed Humphrey, Ph.D., P. T.
Regular aerobic exercise, along with a sensible program of flexibility and resistance exercise, is valuable in reducing health risk, improving quality of life, prolonging functional independence and, possibly, increasing a person's life span. A variety of guidelines exist for individuals setting up exercise programs or modifying programs to maximize the physiological benefit. Among these guidelines, widespread agreement exists that the cardiovascular component of exercise should result in about 30 minutes of aerobic activity on most days of the week. To improve fitness, research suggests exercise on a minimum of three days per week; to manage weight, exercise on more days is necessary to increase the overall caloric effect, plus exercise duration should probably progress from 30 minutes to as much as one hour.