Highlights
- •The minimum amount of physical activity needed to promote musculoskeletal function for older adults is poorly defined.
- •Combining physical activity and adequate nutrition is critical for maintaining skeletal muscle mass and metabolic health.
- •The feasibility of reducing sedentary time to maintain musculoskeletal health in older individuals needs to be explored.
- •Physical activity guidelines should highlight the importance of nutrition combined with resistance-type exercise.
Abstract
Regular physical activity (PA) promotes musculoskeletal health in older adults. However,
the majority of older individuals do not meet current PA guidelines and are also highly
sedentary. Emerging evidence indicates that large amounts of sedentary time accelerate
the loss of skeletal muscle mass (i.e., sarcopenia) and physical function with advancing
age. However, current PA recommendations for sedentary time are non-specific (i.e.,
keep sedentary time to a minimum). Research indicates that physical inactivity and
large amounts of sedentary time accelerate sarcopenic muscle loss by inducing skeletal
muscle ‘anabolic resistance’. These findings suggest a critical interaction between
engaging in ‘sufficient’ levels of PA, minimising sedentary time, and consuming ‘adequate’
nutrition to promote optimal musculoskeletal health in older adults. However, current
PA recommendations do not take into account the important role that nutrition plays
in ensuring older adults can maximise the benefits from the PA in which they engage.
The aim of this narrative review is: (1) to briefly summarise the evidence used to
inform current public health recommendations for PA and sedentary time in older adults;
and (2) to discuss the presence of ‘anabolic resistance’ in older adults, highlighting
the importance of regular PA and minimising sedentary behaviour. It is imperative
that the synergy between PA, minimising sedentary behaviour and adequate nutrition
is integrated into future PA guidelines to promote optimal musculoskeletal health
and metabolic responses in the growing ageing population.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 01, 2016
Accepted:
May 31,
2016
Received in revised form:
May 26,
2016
Received:
May 4,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
