The Utility of Physical Exercise - Essay Example

The learning narrative pertains to my experience in the geriatric ward. The message that I intended to pass on was the utility of physical exercise as a preventive care approach to successful aging among the elderly, by reducing the development and intensity of chronic diseases like CKD.   Despite evidence that physical exercise is beneficial to patients with CKD, barriers to its use persist. The barriers to the use of physical exercise in CKD need to be assessed through studies, but in the meantime, patients should be encouraged to undertake moderate physical exercise (Johansen, 2005).    Literature Review From a global perspective, non-communicable diseases have outstripped communicable diseases as the reason for premature mortality and morbidity. CKD has turned out to be the key determinant for poor health outcomes in the majority of non-communicable diseases. Prevention of CKD thus assumes importance for public health (Couser et al, 2011).  The rise in the incidence of chronic diseases like CKD can be seen as a parallel outcome of the increased availability of food and reduced physical activity in the modern world. Hence, there is a mismatch in energy intake and energy expenditure. Physical activity is known to contribute to a substantial increase in energy expenditure and through that improve metabolic factors in an individual (Stump, 2011). Habitual physical activity has been known to reduce the risk of reduced kidney functioning through the physiological and metabolic effects of physical activity (Robinson-Cohen, 2009). Robinson et al, 2009, studied 4011 ambulatory elderly individuals over the age of 65 for over seven years and found that higher levels of physical activity reduced the risk of kidney function decline. The limitations of the study in the opinion of Barclay 2009, paragraph 6, “limitations of the study include observational design, the potential for confounding, survivorship bias and use of participant questionnaire”.  While there have been many studies that have evaluated the possibility of using physical activity in patients with CKD on dialysis, there have been limited studies that have explored the experiences of using physical activity in the prevention of CKD and non-dialysis CKD patients. However, the limited evidence from these studies points to physical activity being useful as a preventive measure for CKD and reducing the progression of the disease in non-dialysis CKD patients. Certain guidelines have emerged for the use of physical activity as a non-pharmacological intervention in non-dialysis CKD patients. Physical activity is a safe option when initiated at moderate intensity and enhanced gradually to tolerance limits. In any case, there is a clear indication that physical activity carries less risk than remaining inactive (Johansen & Painter, 2012).     Learning Experience  My general message of the utility of physical exercise as a preventive care approach to successful aging among the elderly, by reducing the development and intensity of chronic diseases like CKD had to be modified to the individual patient requirements for it to be understood among the elderly patients. For example, I would have to rephrase the message as “physical exercise will help you feel less ill” or “move around better”, and the like. I found that appreciating the attributes and characteristics of elderly patients and tuning my communications with them with these aspects in mind, made it easier for me to develop a better rapport with them. Such an approach made it easier for their acceptance of my care plans for them (Roach, 2001). 
Physical exercise can assist in preventing many chronic diseases that affect the elderly, assisting them to age with grace. Prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases has become important as it causes more early morbidity and mortality than communicable diseases. Read More