Physical Activity in Old Age

Aim: to prepare professionally and academically qualified teachers for working with older adults.  The program includes courses in the physiological, medical and psychosocial characteristics of older adults as well as fieldwork.

Orientation: The program focuses on typical changes related to aging based on the assumption that old age is not a disease.  However as aging also entails pathologies, the main diseases are also discussed and appropriate physical activity programs are taught.

תכנית המגמה
תשעב תכנית מגמת קשישים
תשעא תכנית מגמת קשישים
תשע"א - תפקוד המערכת הקרדיווסקולרית
תשע"א - אימון גופני ומינון פג
תשע"א - גרות וזיקנה היבטים חברתיים
תשע"א - בגרות וזיקנה היבטים פסיכולוגיים
תשע"א - עקרונות בהפעלת קשישים מוגבלים ועצמאיים
תשע"א - עקרונות פעילות גופנית לזקנים עצמאיים
תשע"א - שינויי גיל במערכת התנועה
תשע"א - מועדוני בריאות וכושר לקשיש - סילבוס

Theoretical Courses

Psychosocial Aspects of Aging

The Aging Musculo-Skeletal and nervous System

The Aging Cardiorespiratory System  

Practical Courses  

Fitness Room for Older Adults

Principles of Teaching Physical Activity in Old Age

Student Teaching (practicum) and Didactics  

Physical Activity in Old Age – An Area of Specialization 

The Full Program 

Theoretical Courses 

Psychosocial Aspects of Aging

1. Social Aspects

Demographics

Gerontology as a science

The meaning of age in developmental research

Cross-sectional and longitudinal research strategies

Social theories of aging

Work retirement and leisure

Psychosocial Aspects of Aging

2. Psychological Aspects

Life span human development – theories of the life cycle

Cognition, memory, intelligence and aging

Aging and psychopathology

Death and dying

Physical activity and cognition

Physical activity and emotional factors

Motivation to physical activity 

The Aging Musculo-Skeletal and Nervous System

Changes in the skeleton

Osteoporosis

Changes in muscle strength and flexibility

Assessment of muscle performance and range of motion

Changes in balance and motoric control

Changes in psychomotor ability and motor learning

Changes in blood pressure, dizziness and related phenomena

Falls

Changes in functional capacity

The effect of physical activity on physical fitness parameters

Principles of and recommendations for physical activity

Assessment of pathologies by self-report

Blood vessel diseases

Cerebral vascular arrest (stroke)

Assessment of muscle performance

Principles of physical activity for stroke patients

Parkinson’s disease

Principles of physical activity for Parkinson’s disease

Hip fracture and physical activity

Gait analysis: normal and pathological function

Anatomy and biomechanics of the foot

Rehabilitation of the movement system

Physical activity for gait improvement

Motoricity in daily functioning - assessment and training

The Aging Cardiorespiratory System

The biology of aging (at rest):

The cell, muscle, bone, nerve-system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, endocrinology system

The effects of aging on the above systems during exercise (aerobic and strength) – submaximal and maximal

Practical applications for training (aerobic and strength) for various aging populations (including diseased) 

Practical Courses 

Fitness Room for Older Adults

Strength training for older adults - introduction

The aging musculo-skeletal system – reasons for deterioration

Improving muscle strength by strength training

Principles of designing strength training program 

Selecting the proper equipment for strength training

Safety principles

Designing a personal program – determining goals and methods

Working with older adults in a fitness room – emphases and applications 

Principles of Teaching Physical Activity in Old Age

Social games for introductions

Model lessons for independently functioning individuals

Model lessons for handicapped individuals

Using small apparatus such as: ropes, hula-hoops and balloons

A lesson with tables and chairs

Aerobic training

Physical activity with music

Walking for health  - principles and methods

Dancing for all functioning levels

Recreational games – circuit training with special equipment such as: pilo-polo, small rackets, parachutes

Fitness test for older adults – functional assessment (Appendix 1)

Improving functioning level – range of motion, strength, balance and posture

Spine – improving range of motion on cervical, thoracic and lumbar planes

The shoulders, spine and arms

The pelvis, spine and hip joint

Abdomen, gluteus, and pelvic floor – methods of training

Training with/without weight on knee, ankle and foot

From standing to chair and bed, and back

Strength and flexibility in the hand and wrist

Stretching – principles and methods

Training in a swimming pool

Relaxation – principles and methods

In addition students are recommended to take movement courses in related areas such as: Yoga, Feldenkraise, Tai Chi, Relaxation techniques, Improving Body Awareness.  

Student Teaching and Didactics  

Student Teaching (practicum) - 

First Stage

1.      Students are asked to observe lessons of physical activity for older adults in different settings and to become familiar with those settings.  The observation is structured and students have to fill in observation forms which are later discussed in class.

2.      Students are asked to select one old person, assess his/her physical activity needs, design a program of physical activity for him/her and train this person according to that program.

Second Stage

Students are required to work with older adults in different settings: community centers, retirement homes, sheltered housing, sports clubs, nursing homes, and day-care centers.  

Didactics

In the beginning students are asked to have the elderly fill out a questionnaire on physical activity background and health condition (appendix 2).  This is a way to have basic relevant information.

During the Student Teaching period, students are required to raise problems encountered while teaching.  Problems are discussed and analyzed.  They are taught how to build a single teaching unit as well as a monthly or yearly program. 

Typical problems:

1.      Groups of elderly are usually not homogenous.  The question is how to make lessons beneficial for different levels of functioning.

2.       In many institutes, specifically in nursing homes, the local staff interfere with the class.

3.      Problems of motivation.

4.      It is quite common that those who work with older adults are not physical activity professionals.  Moreover, in many institutes there are no physical activity programs.  The students are therefore doing their practicum without professional local supervision.