Question 

My mother will not do any type of exercise. Frankly, I do not think she ever exercised in her lifetime. 

My mom is in her 80s and quite sedentary. She just goes from easy chair to easy chair all day long. The only walking she does is between rooms. She eats, she watches television, she does crossword puzzles, and she talks on the phone. Literally, that is it extent of what she does. Mom does not even clean her own house; she has a housekeeper for that.  

I grew up with the presidential fitness challenges, gym classes, and everyone running for exercise. Getting out there and moving are everyday activities in my world. What happened to my mothers generation? Why the lack of activity.  

I am no specialist, but I am concerned about my mother winding up in a wheelchair. Is it okay for her to do almost nothing? My schooling tells me that she is putting herself at risk, but I am not really sure. What is normal for her age? 

Answer 

This is not a frequently asked question though it is a good one. You have identified a common problem in the elderly, inactivity. As we age, our world becomes smaller oftentimes. We stop leaving the house for work, we are not chasing children about, our friends pass away, we lose our spouse, and household work decreases when living alone. The reason for inactivity is fairly predictable.  

You are also correct about her life experiences. Women of your mother’s generation generally did not exercise like your generation does. This county was primarily an agricultural society until the last 60 years. When she was growing up adults and children worked physically most days from sunup to sundown. They were in constant motion and tired. Their bodies were exercised by work. Therefore, formal exercise was not something they considered. They only ran if chased. Lawn mowers were pushed. Clothes were ironed. Then comes the industrial revolution when factories with machines do much of the work man did. Moving along to today, we have the information age. There is even less reason now to physically work or move. Most of us are forced to exercise to keep our bodies moving and functioning at a maximal capacity. So, yes, exercise as you know it is foreign to her.  

You are right to be concerned about your mother’s lack of motion if she is moving so infrequently. She is losing muscle tone each day by not moving more and it could very possibly impact her future. The “use it or lose it” saying is true. Muscles and bones need motion to stay strong.  

First, find out if she is experiencing some barrier to movement. It could be pain, stiff joints, balance issues, or something else. If there is no physical problem at this time she may want to consider some changes to her activity level. While exercise may be foreign to your mother, you may be able to reason with her by explaining the risks of immobility. Here are just a few things for your mother to consider:  

• The sphincter that keeps your bladder from leaking is a muscle. Keeping that muscle strong can prevent accidents.  

• Abdominal muscles help you get out of chairs, move in bed, and a host of other movements that help you remain independent. 

• Falls and fractures due to bone loss affect the elderly quite frequently. Motion and weight bearing are important to keep bones strong.  

If this information inspires your mother to consider a different level of activity, you can possibly help her with a plan. She is not likely to start running or taking up the activities that you pursue. Finding things that interest her is the way to go. Suggestions to consider are stair climbing, gardening (digging is good), walking with a friend, weightlifting, pickleball, yoga, or any activity that puts a little stress on limbs. I am a fan of a different activity for each day of the week to prevent boredom and to use all muscle groups, not just the same ones over and over.  

It is not easy to make changes to activity at your mother’s age, but to protect her lifestyle she may consider it. Ask her to commit 15 minutes at a set time each day to some activity that involves motion. If you live nearby, you could even do it together or connect her with a friend, as it would be good for all involved. The key is to get her moving, as you already know.  

I wish you well and many healthy years for your mother.