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Anne Friedlander

Physical activity is a powerful medicine but, in the modern world, we have drifted away from incorporating activity into our lives. As the barriers to daily movement have gotten stronger, the burden to exercise has gotten greater. These challenges are made worse for individuals in midlife and beyond who experience physical impairments or who are new to regular physical activity. As scientists learn more about the pathways of disease, the causes of aging and the mechanisms by which exercise exerts its benefits, better strategies to slow (i.e. “hack”) the aging process have also emerged. The benefits of exercise impact nearly every area of health and disease that older individuals are concerned about including the risk for dementia, cardiovascular disease, stroke, musculoskeletal disorders, obesity, diabetes and more. Through a series of informative lectures by Anne Friedlander, you will learn how your body normally changes with age and how physical activity can be used to slow that trajectory of aging. The science of exercise will be explained in combination with practical tips (such as how much and what kind), so that you can harness the power of physical activity to optimize healthy aging.

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • You will learn about the physiology of aging and how your body adapts to physical activity in the following categories.
  • Lifestyle activities – like the lettuce in your salad, lifestyle activities will provide the foundation for your healthy lifestyle. whether it is walking the dog or carrying your groceries, small changes throughout the day can make a difference in your overall health and function.
  • Cardiovascular system – your heart, vessels and blood provide a network that delivers oxygen and nutrients while removing waste products, essentially keeping you alive. optimizing the function of the cardiovascular system throughout your life will provide you with more energy, reduce your risk for disease and help you live longer.
  • Muscles – preventing muscle loss as you age is critical to maintaining function and independence. using your muscles regularly at all ages also reduces the risk for disease and premature mortality.
  • Bones – often considered a “dead” tissue, bones are surprisingly responsive to the loads that are placed upon them. keeping a healthy skeleton through physical activity can reduce the risk of debilitating fractures and osteoporosis later in life.
  • Joints – smooth, pain free joints are critical to continued movement throughout the lifespan, so keeping them functioning should be a priority. in contrast to what many people believe, moderate physical activity can help optimally maintain joints and actually reduce the risk for osteoarthritis.
  • Brain – one of the best things you can do to maintain your brain as you age is to engage in regular physical activity. new information is emerging every day as to how your brain and body are intimately connected through a bi-directional communication network. what is good for your body is good for your brain.
  • Cellular aging – many of the benefits you see from physical activity at the whole body level are results of what is happening down in the individual cells. physical activity can improve repair mechanisms, lengthen telomeres (an indicator of aging) and even reduce cell death. in essence, physical activity can make your cells appear and behave younger!

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Develops skills for optimizing healthy aging, addressing concerns of older individuals
Builds a strong foundation for understanding the physiology of aging and its impact on the body
Provides practical tips on incorporating physical activity into daily life, regardless of age or fitness level
Helps learners understand the science behind why physical activity is crucial for healthy aging
Offers insights into the latest research on the benefits of exercise for aging populations

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Your Body Inside and Out: Using Exercise Physiology to Slow Aging with these activities:
Review of Biomechanics Concepts
Refreshes your understanding of the fundamental principles of biomechanics, ensuring you have a strong foundation for comprehending the mechanics of human movement.
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  • Review your lecture notes and textbook chapters on biomechanics.
  • Complete practice problems and exercises.
  • Attend office hours or meet with the instructor for clarification.
How to Conduct a Systematic Review in Exercise Science
Guides you through the process of conducting a systematic review, empowering you to evaluate and critically appraise scientific literature in exercise science.
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  • Define your research question and search strategy.
  • Identify relevant studies and assess their quality.
  • Extract and synthesize the data.
  • Interpret the findings and draw conclusions.
Exercise Physiology Study Group
Facilitates collaboration and peer learning by connecting you with fellow students to discuss and reinforce key concepts in exercise physiology.
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  • Join or form a study group.
  • Meet regularly to discuss course material.
  • Work together on practice problems and assignments.
  • Invite guest speakers or experts to share their knowledge.
Four other activities
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Physical Activity Assessment Exercise
Provides hands-on practice in assessing physical activity levels using self-report measures and objective monitoring devices.
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  • Review the different methods for assessing physical activity.
  • Choose a method and collect data on your own physical activity levels.
  • Analyze the data and interpret the results.
Annotated Bibliography on Exercise and Chronic Disease
Supports your understanding of the role of exercise in managing chronic diseases by compiling and critically evaluating relevant scientific literature.
Browse courses on Exercise
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  • Identify and select key research articles on exercise and chronic disease.
  • Read and summarize each article.
  • Write a brief critique of each article, highlighting its strengths and limitations.
Exercise Intervention Plan
Challenges you to apply the principles of exercise prescription to develop a personalized exercise plan tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Show steps
  • Identify your exercise goals and objectives.
  • Select appropriate exercises and activities.
  • Determine the frequency, intensity, time, and type of exercise.
  • Write a detailed exercise plan.
  • Implement and monitor your exercise plan.
Research Project on the Effects of Exercise on Aging
Engages you in a comprehensive research project that investigates the impact of exercise on the aging process, fostering your analytical and critical thinking skills.
Browse courses on Exercise
Show steps
  • Develop a research question and hypothesis.
  • Design a study to test your hypothesis.
  • Collect and analyze data.
  • Interpret your findings and draw conclusions.
  • Write a research paper and present your results.

Career center

Learners who complete Your Body Inside and Out: Using Exercise Physiology to Slow Aging will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Exercise Physiologist
Exercise Physiologists study how exercise can prevent or treat disease, and they often work in fitness centers or research institutions. This course can help you build a foundation in exercise physiology, making you a more informed and effective exercise professional.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist
Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialists help people who have had heart attacks or other cardiac events improve their physical health by teaching them how to exercise safely and effectively. This course can help you learn about the cardiovascular system and how exercise can benefit people with heart disease.
Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical Therapist Assistants work with Physical Therapists to help people recover from injuries or surgeries, and they often work in hospitals or clinics. This course can help you learn about the musculoskeletal system and how exercise can be used to improve mobility and function.
Massage Therapist
Massage Therapists use massage to relieve pain and stress and promote relaxation. This course can help you learn about the muscles and joints and how massage can be used to improve physical function.
Nutritionist
Nutritionists help people develop healthy eating habits and improve their overall health. This course can help you learn about the role of nutrition in health and how exercise can complement a healthy diet.
Personal Trainer
Personal Trainers help people achieve their fitness goals by creating and implementing personalized exercise programs. This course can help you learn about the principles of exercise and how to design safe and effective workouts.
Group Fitness Instructor
Group Fitness Instructors lead group exercise classes, such as aerobics, yoga, and Pilates. This course can help you learn about the different types of group fitness classes and how to lead them safely and effectively.
Health Educator
Health Educators teach people about health and wellness. This course can help you learn about the different aspects of health and how to communicate health information effectively.
Wellness Coach
Wellness Coaches help people improve their overall health and well-being. This course can help you learn about the different aspects of wellness and how to coach people to make healthy lifestyle changes.
Fitness Manager
Fitness Managers oversee the operations of fitness centers and other fitness facilities. This course can help you learn about the business of fitness and how to manage a fitness facility effectively.
Health Policy Analyst
Health Policy Analysts analyze health policy and make recommendations for changes. This course can help you learn about the different aspects of health policy and how to analyze it effectively.
Health Journalist
Health Journalists write and report on health-related topics for newspapers, magazines, and other media outlets. This course can help you learn about the different aspects of health journalism and how to write and report on health-related topics effectively.
Health Communications Specialist
Health Communications Specialists develop and implement health communication campaigns. This course can help you learn about the different aspects of health communications and how to develop and implement effective health communication campaigns.
Health Insurance Agent
Health Insurance Agents help people find and purchase health insurance policies. This course may help you learn about the different types of health insurance policies and how to help people find the right policy for their needs.
Social Worker
Social Workers help people mengatasi problems like poverty, mental illness, and addiction. This course may help you learn about the different aspects of social work and how to help people mengatasi problems.

Reading list

We've selected 15 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Your Body Inside and Out: Using Exercise Physiology to Slow Aging.
Also focusing on the mind-body connection, this book explores the latest research on how physical activity affects the brain. This course's learning objectives will be well-supported by reading this book.
Comprehensive guide to exercise testing and prescription that is used by fitness professionals all over the world.
Science-based guide to the health benefits of exercise, and offers specific exercise recommendations for different health conditions.
Will be helpful to students in exploring research on the world's longest-lived people and their lifestyle habits. The focus here is on nutrition and lifestyle, further supporting foundational knowledge for the course.
Will be of interest for additional reading on the concept of pathways to disease and how exercise plays a role. Not required reading, but certainly useful in the context of this course.
Great resource for anyone new to weightlifting and wants to learn the basics of strength training.
This classic bodybuilding book must-have for anyone serious about weightlifting and building muscle.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the nutrition of exercise, including the nutritional needs of exercisers and the role of nutrition in exercise performance.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the sociology of sport, including the social and cultural aspects of sport.

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