Motivating Older Adults for Physical Activity: It’s Never Too Late

Aging is often accompanied by a decline in physical work capacity and health status. This negative relationship between chronological aging and physiological functioning is evidenced in the scientific literature as well as in popular belief. The declines associated with “old age” are typically seen as inevitable and attributed to the natural aging process and/or the presence of disease or illness. In many cases, however, the observed decrements in physical health among older people are a function of poor health habits and, in particular, inadequate levels of physical activity.