Agieng is physiological change

1. PHYSIOLOGIC CHANGE OF AGING

2. WHY WE BECOME OLD?
GROUP MEMBERS ID
EMAN AMAN ..................................RU0087/13
EYOB KASEYE...................................RU0037/13
GETAHUN TSEGAYE….…...................RU0751/12
NAOL SHIBIRU.................................RU2376/13

3. OBJECTIVES
• Introduction
• Cardiovascular System
• Respiratory System
• The nervous system
• Musculoskeletal System
• Aging changes in the senses
• Common Conditions treated by Physiotherapists
• Benefits of Physiotherapy in old age

4. Introduction
• Ageing is a natural process. Everyone must undergo this
phase of life at his or her own time and pace.
• ageing reflects all the changes taking place over the course of
life. These changes start from birth then develops to the young.
• Middle age is the time when people notice the age-related
changes like graying of hair, wrinkled skin and a fair amount
of physical decline.
• No one can escape these changes.

5. • Ageing is biological reality which starts at changes and ends with
death.
• In most of the developed countries, the age of 60 is considered
equivalent to retirement age and it is said to be the beginning of old
age.
• Aging is characterized by progressive and broadly predictable
changes that are associated with increased susceptibility to many
diseases.
• Aging is not a homogenous process. Rather, organs in the same
person age at different rates influenced by multiple factors.

6. PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES OF AGING IN
DIFFERENT BODY SYSTEM

7. Cardiovascular System
• Aging alters CVS both
structurally and physiologically.
• Main changes in;
1. heart muscle
2. valves and
3. blood vessels.

8. Heart muscle
▶Increase collagen and decrease elastin in the heart
muscle; these changesdecrease myocardium
contraction and thus decrease cardiac output.
Valve
Valves increases circumference because of lipid
accumulation, collagen degeneration and fibrosis,
which lead to reduction of valve flexibility.

9. Blood vessel
• Elastin in the vessel wall decreases which
lead to thickening and rigidity of the
vessels especially the coronary arteries
(Arteriosclerosis)
• High risk to cardiovascular diseases,
particularly coronary heart disease.
▶Atherosclerosis.
▶High risk to hypertension.
▶V
aricosities (lower limbs).

10. Respiratory System
• The primary functions of respiration
are to supply O2 to and remove CO2
from the blood.
• Main changes are;
1. Lung structure
2. Chest wall and
3. musculoskeletal structure

11. Lung structure
▶ Lungs become smaller and flabbier, and
their weight diminishes by
approximately 20% lead to decrease in
lung capacity.
▶ The alveoli progressively enlarge, and
their walls become thinner.
▶ Decrease in alveoli elasticity and the
number of capillaries surrounding the
alveoli can interfere with gas exchange
leading to decrease of O2 saturation.

12. Chest wall and musculoskeletal structure
• Calcification of costal cartilage makes the
ribcage more rigid,
▶increased the anterior posterior chest
diameter often demonstrated by kyphosis
▶ weakness of thoracic inspiratory and
expiratory muscles which reduce the
mobility of ribcage.
▶These changes reduce respiratory
efficiency and reduce maximal
inspiratory and expiratory force.

13. Common problems related to respiratory system
changes:
▶Increased susceptibility to infection
▶Increased susceptibility to aspiration
▶Inadequate oxygenation

14. The nervous system
 Reduction in brain size and weight due to a
decrease in the volume of the cerebral cortex.
 Reduction in the number of functioning
neurons.
 Blood flow to the brain is decreased as a result
of fatty deposits that gradually accumulate in the
walls of blood vessels and reduce the rate of
arterial blood flow. This condition is called
atherosclerosis.

15.  The nerves and the spinal cord slowly lose
weight and the number of nerve cells slowly
decreases.
 Slower transmitted signals from nerve cell to
nerve cell, which leads to slower reflexes and a
gradual loss of the senses.
 Nerve cells may begin to transmit messages
more slowly than in the past.

16. Common problems related to nervous system
changes:
 Increased risk of injury
 Increased risk of fall
 Increased risk of accident
 Decreased memory
 lost reflexes
 Effects in memory, & thinking

17. Musculoskeletal System
 The bones, joints, and muscles are the body structures most
closely associated with aging process.
Main changes are; in bone, vertebral column,
postural, gait, muscle and joints.
Bone: -
 Increase bone absorption
 Diminished calcium absorption
 Impaired bone formation
 Fewer function marrow cells

18. B- Vertebral column:-
 There is a decrease of height (1.2 cm of height every 20
years).
C- Posture and gait:-
 In men, the walking of the elderly shows a short steps and
wider leg distance in order to achieve better balance and
stable weight distribution.
 Women become bow-legged, with a narrow standing
base and walk with a wadding gait.

19. Muscle
 Muscle losses size and strength as we get
older, which can contribute to fatigue,
weakness and reduced tolerance to exercise.
 Loss of motor neurons.
 Less glycogen is stored in aging muscles.
 Diminished protein synthesis.

20. Joints
 Movement becomes stiffer and less flexible
because the amount of lubricating fluid inside your
joints decreases.
 The cartilage becomes thinner.
 Ligaments tend to shorten and lose some
flexibility, making joints feel stiff.
 Being inactive causes the cartilage to shrink and
stiffen, reducing joint mobility.

21. Common problems related to musculoskeletal
system changes:
 Pain
 Impaired mobility
 Self-care deficit
 Increased risk of falls
 Increased risk of infection
 Increased risk of fracture
 Osteoporosis
 Rheumatoid arthritis

22. Aging changes
in
the senses

23. Hearing
▶ Membranes in the middle ear, including the
eardrum, become less flexible.
▶ Changes in the middle ear with advancing age
also contribute to a weakening sense of
balance.
▶ Older individuals may complain of
dizziness and find it difficult to move
quickly without losing their balance.

24. Vision
 Aging eyes produce fewer tears
 The pupil may also react more slowly in
response to darkness or bright light.
 The fat pads supporting the eye decrease
and the eye sinks back into the socket.
 Visual acuity gradually decline this
increases the risk of falling.

25. Touch
 touch and response to painful stimuli
decreases.
 Reduce tactile sensation.
 The warm-cold difference threshold
increases with age.

26. Common Conditions treated by
Physiotherapists
• In old people are susceptible to various illnesses usually including
musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiopulmonary problems,
mental illness, balance problems, and chronic pain.
• Physiotherapy treatment has been successful in managing each of
these ailments.
Pain from chronic conditions:
• Physiotherapy can help to decrease discomfort due to conditions
like arthritis or osteoporosis. Usually, joint pain is caused by
inflammation of the joints, injuries, arthritis, gout, etc.

27. Physiotherapy role

28. Improve strength and flexibility
• Due to aging decreased strength and flexibility is one of the
most common issues that almost every individual faces. A
Physiotherapy helps to bring back strength and flexibility, and
also improves patients' quality of life.
Postural Instability and Balance Impairment
• Balance impairment in the elderly is due to arthritis and
numbness in feet and legs, eye problems, blood circulation
problems, and intake of multiple medicines. Physiotherapy
treatment includes balance exercises to help improve balance.

29. Risk of injury
• Physical therapy helps to maintain stability. The
physiotherapist teaches the patient to adapt to visual, mobility,
balance, and muscle loss impairments to easily complete the
activities of daily living.
Prevention of risk of a fall
• Falls are the leading cause of accidents among aged
individuals, resulting in bone fractures and other injuries. A
physiotherapist can train the individual in techniques to
prevent a fall.

30. Maintaining an independent lifestyle
• Recovery from pain due to an illness or injury allows the
individual to lead an active and independent life for a longer
period of time.
• Stretching and strengthening exercises are proven to be
effective for older people.

31. Benefits of Physiotherapy in old age
• Physiotherapy is vital for restoring functionality, reducing
pain, and thus improving quality of life.
• Regular exercises result in improved balance, strength,
coordination, motor control, flexibility, endurance, and even
memory.
• Helps to maintain cognitive function.
• Reduces the risk of heart disease.
• Helps to maintain the ability to carry out activities of daily
living.

32. • Improves mood and self-esteem.
• Reduces the risk of falls.
• Treats and prevents joint problems, balance disorders, risk of
falls, strength decline and reduces high blood pressure and
obesity.
• Physiotherapy is proved to be beneficial for old people
suffering from conditions like stiff joints, unbendable
ligaments, and overall body movement. Parkinson's disease,
arthritis, and neurological problems.

33. • The therapy helps maintain mobility and independence.
• The therapy is a means of attaining coordination within the
body systems.
• It also improves cardio-respiratory functions.
• Physiotherapists can provide advice on how the exercises can
be done safely and also strongly recommends exercises for
elderly patients as a part of a daily routine.

34. References
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