Active Ageing and Physical Activity (eBook)

Gonçalo Dias obtained both M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees on Sport Sciences at the Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education of University of Coimbra and the B.Sc. degree at the Coimbra College of Education from the Coimbra Polytechnic Institute. He is currently a Professor of Advanced Topics in Motor Learning at the Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education of University of Coimbra (Master Course in Youth Sports Training) and a member of the Scientific Committee within the same institution. Over the past 10 years, he has been conducting scientific research on several areas associated to sports and health, namely physical activity among older adults, motor control, sport sciences, and others. Besides research and lecturing, he has been in charge of the organization of events, both in the public and private domains, as coordinator of the County Sports Office from Arganil, Portugal. Additionally, he is responsible for the program “Physical activity to older adults,” which brings together more than 100 elderly aged between 65 and 100 years old. This activity resulted in the publication of three books and several articles that portray the work of his research in 20 private institutions of social solidarity in Portugal, being currently considered one of Portugal’s leading experts in this field. Micael S. Couceiro obtained the B.Sc., Teaching Licensure, and Master degrees on Electrical Engineering (Automation and Communications), at the Coimbra School of Engineering (ISEC), Coimbra Polytechnic Institute (IPC). He obtained the Ph.D. degree on Electrical and Computer Engineering (Automation and Robotics) at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of University of Coimbra (FCTUC), under a Ph.D. Grant from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology. Over the past 6 years, he has been conducting scientific research on several areas, namely robotics, computer vision, sports engineering, and others, all at the Institute of Systems and Robotics (ISR-FCTUC). This resulted on more than 25 scientific articles in international impact factor journals and more than 50 scientific articles at international conferences. Besides being currently a researcher at ISR, he has been invited for lecturing, tutoring, and organization of events (e.g., professional courses, national and international conferences, among others), both in the public and private domains. He is a co-founder and currently the CEO of Ingeniarius—a company devoted to the development of smart devices, from which performance analysis in sports has been one of its main markets.

Foreword 6
Acknowledgements 8
Contents 9
About the Authors 12
1 Introduction: New Paradigms of Active Ageing 14
Abstract 14
1.1 Population Ageing 15
1.2 Active Ageing: Retrospective and Future Trends 20
1.3 Physical Activity in the Active Ageing Process 23
1.4 Disorders and Psychomotor Rehabilitation 24
1.4.1 Cerebrovascular Accidents 25
1.4.2 Heart Disease 26
1.4.3 Pulmonary Disease 27
1.4.4 Osteoporosis 27
1.4.5 Metabolic Disorders (Diabetes) 28
1.5 Conclusions and Practical Implications 28
References 29
2 Physical Activity Benefits in Active Ageing 33
Abstract 33
2.1 Background 33
2.2 Morphological and Functional Changes of the Elderly 34
2.3 Body Composition 35
2.4 Cardio-respiratory Capacity 35
2.5 Musculoskeletal System 36
2.6 Central Nervous System 36
2.7 Sensory and Perceptive System 37
2.8 Movement Duration and Motor Reaction 38
2.9 Health Benefits of Physical Activity 39
2.9.1 Aerobic Capacity 39
2.9.2 Muscular Strength 40
2.9.3 Flexibility 41
2.9.4 Balance 41
2.9.5 Biopsychosocial Model 42
2.10 Conclusions and Practical Implications 43
References 43
3 Activity Programmes for the Elderly 47
Abstract 47
3.1 Regular Physical Activity and Healthy Ageing 47
3.2 Physical Fitness Evaluation 50
3.3 Physical Activity Prescription 51
3.3.1 Structure 51
3.3.2 Frequency 51
3.3.3 Duration 52
3.3.4 Intensity 52
3.3.5 Repetitions per Exercise 52
3.3.6 Technical Indications 52
3.4 General Exercises 52
3.4.1 Stick 53
3.4.2 Ball 57
3.4.3 Hoop 62
3.4.4 Resistance Band (Part 1) 68
3.4.5 Resistance Band (Part 2) 73
3.4.5.1 Chair 80
3.5 Strength Exercises 86
3.5.1 Dumb-bells 87
3.5.2 Neoprene Ankle Weights 93
3.6 Partner Exercises 98
3.6.1 Body Strengthening 98
3.6.2 Body Language 105
3.7 Return to Resting State 110
3.8 Conclusions and Practical Implications 114
References 114
4 Technology for the Active Senior 116
Abstract 116
4.1 Mixed Reality Serious Games and Robotics 116
4.2 Mixed Reality Serious Games 118
4.2.1 Serious Games 120
4.2.2 Mixed Reality 120
4.2.3 Wearable Technology 121
4.3 Robotics 122
4.3.1 Appearance and Physical Characteristics 123
4.3.2 Real-Time Assistance and Monitoring Over the Internet 124
4.3.3 Autonomous Navigation and Operation Under Dynamic Environments 125
4.4 Conclusions and Practical Implications 126
References 127
5 Conclusions 130
Abstract 130
5.1 Conclusions 130
5.2 Practical Implications 131
5.3 Recommendations 131