Physical activity and ageing: The role of physiotherapy in promoting healthy ageing
Background: The global rise in the older population, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, has heightened the impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), responsible for 74% of global deaths and the leading cause for years lived with disability. Physical activity (PA) has proven to manage NCDs; however,...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | South African Journal of Physiotherapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2114 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823858197102854144 |
|---|---|
| author | Shane Naidoo Nirmala Naidoo |
| author_facet | Shane Naidoo Nirmala Naidoo |
| author_sort | Shane Naidoo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The global rise in the older population, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, has heightened the impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), responsible for 74% of global deaths and the leading cause for years lived with disability. Physical activity (PA) has proven to manage NCDs; however, 80% of older adults in sub-Saharan Africa engage in low-to-moderate PA levels.
Objectives: This literature review explores current evidence on the effects of PA on ageing and NCDs in older people in sub-Saharan Africa. Insights gained will enable physiotherapists to refine their PA prescriptions, aligning short-term rehabilitative goals with the broader scope NCD management while fostering principles of healthy ageing.
Method: Electronic searches were conducted in: PubMed, EBSCOhost (Academic Search Premier – Africa-Wide Information, CINAHL, Health Sources Premier), Scopus and Google-Scholar to identify peer-reviewed studies published after 2010 related to PA, ageing, NCDs and older people (OP) in sub-Saharan Africa.
Results: A structured PA protocol, comprising aerobic activity at 60% – 79% of maximal heart rate and resistance training at 50% – 60% of one-repetition maximum (3 weekly sessions each), proved effective in reducing NCDs. Integrating lifestyle behaviour changes further enhanced outcomes, notably improving blood sugar management and cardiac health.
Conclusion: Structured aerobic and resistance PA, combined with lifestyle education, significantly reduces NCD risk factors in older adults, supporting healthy ageing.
Clinical implications: The current research base in the field of ageing in SSA is limited, indicating the need for non-pharmacological interventions to manage the prevalence of NCDs, including in mental/cognitive health, where PA has a direct influence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-61d3c3cac2c748af88a8f3d4bef0662f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0379-6175 2410-8219 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Physiotherapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-61d3c3cac2c748af88a8f3d4bef0662f2025-02-11T13:31:35ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Physiotherapy0379-61752410-82192025-02-01811e1e810.4102/sajp.v81i1.21141602Physical activity and ageing: The role of physiotherapy in promoting healthy ageingShane Naidoo0Nirmala Naidoo1Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape TownDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape TownBackground: The global rise in the older population, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, has heightened the impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), responsible for 74% of global deaths and the leading cause for years lived with disability. Physical activity (PA) has proven to manage NCDs; however, 80% of older adults in sub-Saharan Africa engage in low-to-moderate PA levels. Objectives: This literature review explores current evidence on the effects of PA on ageing and NCDs in older people in sub-Saharan Africa. Insights gained will enable physiotherapists to refine their PA prescriptions, aligning short-term rehabilitative goals with the broader scope NCD management while fostering principles of healthy ageing. Method: Electronic searches were conducted in: PubMed, EBSCOhost (Academic Search Premier – Africa-Wide Information, CINAHL, Health Sources Premier), Scopus and Google-Scholar to identify peer-reviewed studies published after 2010 related to PA, ageing, NCDs and older people (OP) in sub-Saharan Africa. Results: A structured PA protocol, comprising aerobic activity at 60% – 79% of maximal heart rate and resistance training at 50% – 60% of one-repetition maximum (3 weekly sessions each), proved effective in reducing NCDs. Integrating lifestyle behaviour changes further enhanced outcomes, notably improving blood sugar management and cardiac health. Conclusion: Structured aerobic and resistance PA, combined with lifestyle education, significantly reduces NCD risk factors in older adults, supporting healthy ageing. Clinical implications: The current research base in the field of ageing in SSA is limited, indicating the need for non-pharmacological interventions to manage the prevalence of NCDs, including in mental/cognitive health, where PA has a direct influence.https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2114agedphysical activitynon-communicable diseaseshealth ageingcognition |
| spellingShingle | Shane Naidoo Nirmala Naidoo Physical activity and ageing: The role of physiotherapy in promoting healthy ageing South African Journal of Physiotherapy aged physical activity non-communicable diseases health ageing cognition |
| title | Physical activity and ageing: The role of physiotherapy in promoting healthy ageing |
| title_full | Physical activity and ageing: The role of physiotherapy in promoting healthy ageing |
| title_fullStr | Physical activity and ageing: The role of physiotherapy in promoting healthy ageing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical activity and ageing: The role of physiotherapy in promoting healthy ageing |
| title_short | Physical activity and ageing: The role of physiotherapy in promoting healthy ageing |
| title_sort | physical activity and ageing the role of physiotherapy in promoting healthy ageing |
| topic | aged physical activity non-communicable diseases health ageing cognition |
| url | https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2114 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shanenaidoo physicalactivityandageingtheroleofphysiotherapyinpromotinghealthyageing AT nirmalanaidoo physicalactivityandageingtheroleofphysiotherapyinpromotinghealthyageing |