Keeping Active As We Age

Patricia Gregory, MD, recently spoke to a group of 80 active seniors participating in a walking program at Southpoint Mall in neighboring Durham, NC. Her talk pointers included the following:

• Healthy Eating after 50

• Exercise and Physical Activity: Getting Fit for Life
  • Endurance
  • Strength
  • Balance
  • Flexibility
• How do you know if you are at risk for decline in physical function?
  • Short Physical Performance Battery
  • Standing balance
  • Measured walk
  • Chair rise

1. Dr. Gregory is a physiatrist in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation within the UNC Healthcare system. A physiatrist is a rehab doctor who works with patients to increase their functional capabilities after an injury, accident, surgery or general deconditioning. One of Dr. Gregory's specialties is geriatric rehabilitation, which focuses on three key areas: cardiovascular problems like vascular disease and stroke, osteoporosis and osteoarthritic conditions and general deconditioning due to normal aging.

The following are research articles referenced by Dr.Gregory at the presentation:

• LIFE Study Pilot Results [.pdf]
• SPPB Lower extremity function and subsequent disability [.pdf]