Physical activity: a necessity for good health in old age

Abstract

Elderly population is increasing nowadays, which is attributed to a greater life expectation, probably related to a better control of contagious and chronic diseases, thus leading to the need of changes in social structure, in order to enable those people to have a better quality of life. Physical activity is an important mean of achieving elderly health prevention and promotion throughout its countless benefits. This present study aimed at approaching some aspects of the process of growing old: its epidemiology, the benefits and the importance of health activity for achieving quality of life in old age and the Brazilian public politics directed to this period of life, pointing out the actual need of structuring programs that emphasize the physical activities’ practice, as well as the involvement of health professionals ahead of these actions.