Significant Changes
Functional constraints are related to one’s behavioural function, such as motivation. It means that a person holds creation beliefs about their physical and psychological inability that shape their actions and motivations. The level of activity is very high in childhood, and as a person moves towards adulthood, the level of activity decreases. It is because of certain functional constraints that are present in one’s body and society. These constraints are that activity is not essential in older age and that people lose the ability to learn new things as they age.
Although it is true that many physical and psychological changes occur as a person becomes old. A usual older person loses 50% of their mass by the age of 80; driving is difficult beyond the age of 27. These functions constrain people of older adulthood from participating in sports and other physical activities, which in turn makes them lazy and more inactive. Less activity results in many chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease (Chodzko-Zajko et al., 2009).
Many kinds of research are now being conducted which support the concept that these functional constraints are irrelevant and that exercise and activity for older people are vital for a healthy body and mind. Researchers have found that if a person remains active even in older adulthood, the level of performance will be the same as that of a young person. Many doctors recommend exercise for older people as this strengthens the muscles and reduces sedentary behaviour (Nelson et al., 2007). The knowledge and awareness of these concepts can help older people in many ways. It will encourage older people to participate in sports and other physical activities, and it will improve their health significantly. Learning new skills and abilities will make people of older adulthood more active and productive.
References
Chodzko-Zajko, W. J., Proctor, D. N., Singh, M. A. F., Minson, C. T., Nigg, C. R., Salem, G. J., & Skinner, J. S. (2009). Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41(7), 1510–1530.
Nelson, M. E., Rejeski, W. J., Blair, S. N., Duncan, P. W., Judge, J. O., King, A. C., … Castaneda-Sceppa, C. (2007). Physical activity and public health in older adults: recommendation from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Circulation, 116(9), 1094.
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