As we age, it’s natural to see some loss of strength, flexibility, balance, and aerobic endurance. But today’s aging population isn’t willing to just sit back and accept these declines. They’re looking for ways to maintain a high quality of life throughout their older years. Bending the Aging Curve: The Complete Exercise Guide for Older Adults offers a systematic approach to designing exercise programs that will help older adults bend or straighten these curves of decline, resulting in more years of strength, vitality, and independence.

Bending the Aging Curve provides fitness professionals with a multifaceted periodized training program specifically for older adults. With this book and DVD package, you will find the tools you need to help your clients slow the physical decline that can accompany aging:

• Training strategies for improving body composition, flexibility, bone density, muscular strength and power, and cardiovascular fitness that can be customized to fit each client
  
• 73 translational exercises that simulate everyday activities and help older clients to translate their new strengths into improved daily function and increased independence
  
• A series of tests that will allow you to assess your clients’ strengths and weaknesses, design programs that address their needs, and keep them motivated during their training
  
• A spreadsheet in which you can record clients’ test results and view their percentile rankings for their sex and age groups
  
• Videos of the translational exercises that let you and your clients see these unique activities in action to ensure accuracy and safety
  
• Video case studies of four sample clients that show the progression from testing to targeted training to the translational exercise cycle so you can better understand how to design programs that meet your clients’ varying needs and goals

This one-of-a-kind resource presents a scientifically substantiated and practically proven training system that can extend the vitality of our aging population. Signorile offers an engaging explanation of the research behind his exercise diagnosis and prescription model while maintaining a focus on the practical components of program design. You will learn to use tests to diagnose your clients’ needs and then prescribe training cycles with the appropriate mix of work, active recovery, and skill practice to maximize functional improvements. The photos and step-by-step instructions for each of the tests and exercises found in the book and the video clips on the DVD make it easy to quickly implement this training system with your clients.

Maintaining independence as we age depends on a multitude of factors. Bending the Aging Curve offers a comprehensive approach to designing exercise interventions that address all of these factors. With its targeted strategies, you’ll be able to help your clients stay active, energetic, and self-reliant, regardless of their age.

Part I: Understanding the Aging Curves and Training Older Adults
Chapter 1: The Aging Curves
The Concept of Age
The Diamond Analogy
The Aging Curves
Using Exercise to Bend the Aging Curves
Frailty and Physical Vulnerability
Prehab or Rehab: Changing the Oil or Changing the Engine?
Exercise as a Targeted Intervention: Matching the Program to the Need
Summary
Topical Bibliography
References

Chapter 2: Testing
The Exercise Diagnosis and Prescription Model
The Exercise Diagnosis: Analysis of Needs
What Makes an Effective Test?
When to Test
Testing Activities of Daily Living
Summary
Topical Bibliography
References

Chapter 3: Training Principles
Overload and Adaptation
Exercise Specificity
Summary
Topical Bibliography
References

Part II: Training Exercises: From Theory to Practice
Chapter 4: Body Composition
The Prevalence of Obesity and Its Consequences
The Obesity Paradox
Sarcopenic Obesity and Activities of Daily Living
Sarcopenic Obesity and Fall Probability
Testing Body Composition
Training Interventions for Sarcopenic Obesity
Summary
Topical Bibliography
References

Chapter 5: Flexibility
Defining Flexibility and the Stress–Strain Curve
Possible Causes of Declining Flexibility With Aging
Why Train for Flexibility?
Types of Stretching
Do Stretching and Flexibility Training Increase Flexibility?
Stretching, Flexibility Training, and Injury Prevention
Stretching, Flexibility Training, and Performance
Practical Aspects of Flexibility Training
Testing Flexibility
Flexibility Program Design
Flexibility Training Exercises
Summary
Topical Bibliography
References

Chapter 6: Bone, Falls, and Fractures
Structure of Bone
Factors Affecting Bone Strength
Osteopenia and Osteoporosis
Exercise Training to Prevent Osteoporosis
Better Balance and Agility
Testing Balance
Balance Training
Summary
Topical Bibliography
References

Chapter 7: Muscular Strength, Power, and Endurance Training
Sarcopenia: What Makes It Happen?
Effects of Resistance Training on the Causes of Sarcopenia
Resistance Training to Reduce the Effects of Sarcopenia
Testing Neuromuscular Performance
Resistance Training Exercises
Summary
Topical Bibliography
References

Chapter 8: Cardiovascular Training
Increasing Cardiovascular Fitness: Benefits and Methods
Testing Cardiovascular Fitness
Cardiovascular Training and Program Design
Summary
Topical Bibliography
References

Part III: Putting the Program Together
Chapter 9: Periodized Training
Periodization: The Underlying Theories
Fatigue During Time-Based Training Cycles
Controlling the Fitness–Fatigue Balance During Training
Applied Periodization Using Specific Training Cycles
Summary
Topical Bibliography
References

Chapter 10: The Translational Cycle: Active Recovery Meets Functional Practice
Basic Concept of the Translational Cycle
Translational Cycles and Periodization
Timing of Translational Cycles
Motor Learning Drills: The Need for Progression
Matching Translational and Training Cycles
Translational Exercises
Summary
Topical Bibliography
References