The importance of physical activity in older age

POVZETEK Telesna dejavnost je pomembna za ohranjanje telesnega in duševnega zdravja ljudi v času staranja. Zmanjšuje tveganje za padce in poškodbe pri padcih, ki predstavljajo eno glavnih težav tretjega življenjskega obdobja. V procesu staranja se postopoma zmanjšujejo funkcionalne sposobnosti organizma. Telesna nedejavnost je eden izmed dejavnikov tveganja za razvoj kroničnih nenalezljivih obolenj, ki predstavljajo glavni vzrok smrti v državah Evropske unije. Družba je odgovorna za ustvarjanje pogojev, ki omogočajo aktivno staranje. Glavne funkcije medicinske sestre so krepitev in ohranjanje zdravja ter preprečevanje bolezni. Zato je potrebno, da medicinska sestra spodbuja telesno dejavnost tudi v času staranja in tako širi kulturo gibanja med ljudmi. S svojimi dejavnostmi vpliva na izboljšanje zdravja in dobrega počutja ljudi. V raziskavo, na temo pomen telesne dejavnosti v starosti, je bilo vključenih 20 starostnikov iz Rogaške Slatine, ki so vključeni v gibalno vadbeno skupino za starejše od 65 let. Z anonimno anketo smo želeli ugotoviti, kateri so njihovi glavni motivi za vključevanje v organizirano gibalno vadbeno skupino in kakšen pomen pripisujejo starostniki gibalnim aktivnostim. Ugotovili smo, da je 85 % anketiranim ohranjanje gibalnih sposobnosti najmočnejši motiv za udejstvovanje v vadbeni skupini, hkrati je 90 % anketiranih mnenja, da telesna dejavnost zmanjšuje tveganje za nastanek kronično nenalezljivih obolenj. Z raziskavo smo ugotovili, da je 95 % anketiranim telesna dejavnost pomembna za krepitev zdravja in hkrati 75 % anketiranim predstavlja eno izmed možnosti zdravega načina življenja. Z raziskavo ugotovimo, da so starostniki osveščeni o pomenu telesne dejavnosti in so mnenja, da je telesna dejavnost tista, ki jim omogoča ohranjanje psihofizičnih sposobnosti v starosti.ABSTRACT Physical activity is important for preserving physical as well as mental health in the period of ageing. It lowers risk of falls and injuries in falls which present one of the most important problems of the third life period. Functional body’s ability lowers gradually in the process of ageing. Physical inactivity is one of the risk factors for developing chronic non-communicable diseases, which are the main cause of death in the countries of the European Union. The society is responsible for creating conditions that provide for active ageing. The main functions of a nurse are strengthening and preserving health as well as preventing illnesses. Therefore, it is important that the nurse encourages physical activity also in the time of ageing and in this way spreads the culture of exercise among people. With their activities nurses influence the improvement of health and well being of people. There were 20 elderly persons from Rogaška Slatina who are a part of the exercise group for older than 65 covered in the research on the topic of the importance of physical activity in the old age. With an anonymous questionnaire we wished to establish which their main motives for taking part in the organized exercise group were and what importance the elderly gave to exercising. The results showed that for the 85 % of the asked the preservation of motion abilities is the strongest motive for participating in the exercise group, and at the same time 90 % of the asked believe the physical activity to lower the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases. With the research, we also established that 95 % of the asked find the physical activity important for strengthening health, and at the same time for 75 % it presents one of the possibilities of a healthy way of living. With the research we establish that the elderly are aware of the importance of physical activity and believe that physical activity is the one helping them preserve psychophysical abilities in the old age