1. by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
Movement in Adulthood
Chapter 15
Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

2. Motor Development Across the Lifespan
Motor development looks at changes over a lifetime.
However, most motor developmentalists have an expertise in childhood movement.
Pay much less attention to movement in adolescence
Only occasional looks at movement in adults
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

3. Motor Development in Adulthood
Increase in population and life expectancy of older adults
Issues involving movement:
Balance and postural sway
Walking patterns
Falls and how to avoid them
Driving
Activities of daily living
Movement speed
Maintaining movement ability with increasing age
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

4. Reflecting on Movement as We Get Older
Have you given much thought to getting older—and the consequences to your regular activities?
Do you expect to remain as physically active as you are now?
Do you think people under the age of 30, generally, have given much thought to this topic?
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

5. Balance and Postural Sway
Loss of balance is a major contributor to number of falls experienced by older adults
Static and dynamic balance
Postural sway and proprioception
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

6. Walking Patterns in Adulthood
Gait changes
Related to decline in balance
Can affect all aspects of an individual’s life
Gait speed: A vital sign in geriatric assessment
Negotiating steps and other obstacles
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

7. by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
Gait Changes with Age
Forward-flexing trunk posture
Reduced hip extension
Reduced plantar flexion
Reduced power at push-off
Less fluid movement/timing
More variable stride length and timing
More hesitancy and greater tendency toward arrhythmic stride
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

8. by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
Falls
Leading cause of injury among those over 65
Leading cause of death resulting from injury
The risk of serious harm from falling increases with age
Fear of falling leads to a cautious gait
Causes: Intrinsic and extrinsic
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

9. Contributing Factors to Falls Among Older Adults
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10. Fall, continued—Consequences and Strategies for Avoiding
Many never regain functional walking
Fractured hip
Diminished confidence
Avoidance of physical activity
Avoiding falls:
Make repairs in the home
Scrutinize medications
Exercise regularly
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

11. Strategies for Avoiding Falls in the Home
Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

12. Driving in Older Adulthood
More fatal crashes are experienced by drivers over 75 than all other age groups.
Factors related to declines in driving ability:
Vision and hearing
Processing and response time
Chronic conditions
Physical fitness
Obesity
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

13. Activities of Daily Living
Older adults may lose the ability to care for themselves, leading to a loss of independence:
Getting in/out of bed, dressing, bathing, cooking, shopping, handling personal finances, etc.
Factors affecting functionality:
Sedentary behavior vs. being physically active
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

14. Movement Speed in Adulthood
Physiological functional capacity
Ability to undertake physical tasks of daily life with ease
Declines with age
Reaction, response, and movement times
Simple reaction time and choice reaction time
Saccadic movements—exception to age-related declines seen elsewhere
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

15. Maintaining Movement Ability
Decline in movement ability does not have to begin as early or be as severe as it is for some adults.
Compensating for movement decline:
Pacing
Speed/accuracy trade-off
Remaining physically active
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

16. by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
Physical Activity
Individuals can maintain and improve movement ability well into late adulthood
Avoid a sedentary lifestyle
Participate in physical activity or exercise programs
Only 20% of U.S. adults achieve recommended levels of physical activity.
Physical inactivity will become even more common in the future.
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

17. by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
Recommendations for Healthy Adults from the American College of Sports Medicine
continued
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

18. More Recommendations from the ACSM
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

19. Barriers to Engaging in Physical Activity
Lacking adequate social support
Having physical limitations
Having a history or habit of being inactive
Having other priorities
Lacking convenient access to facilities
Not caring enough
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

20. Important Factors for Enabling Physically Active Lifestyles
Resourcefulness
Social networks
Movement-friendly environments
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

21. Reflecting on Physical Activity for Older Adults
When you recommend to your grandfather that he start an exercise program, he tells you that he has a bad hip, he can’t get to the local fitness center easily, and he just doesn’t feel up to it.
How do you respond? What can you say to motivate him to be more active?
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

22. Video—Physical Activity Guidelines for Older Adults
This video discusses and demonstrates physical activity guidelines for older adults in Canada.
Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers