ABSTRACT
The exercise prescription should be integrated into all other components of an older woman’s health care plan, since it will impact functional capacity, health status, nutritional requirements, psychological status, and other lifestyle changes which may be addressed by other members of the health care team. Coordination of exercise and nutritional prescriptions is particularly important, as there are many misconceptions in this area propagated by the lay media as well as some sports medicine practitioners. Once the commitment is made to integrate exercise prescriptions into general practice, protocols and systems need to be established to operationalize these prescriptions. Identification of depression, anxiety, or insomnia on screening is important as the conditions all benefit from both resistive and aerobic exercise. Intercurrent illness, progressive disease, or hospitalization may dramatically alter physical capacity and health care needs, requiring a re-assessment of exercise goals and strategies for implementation.
