Weakness or stiffness of key posture muscles can cause much of the disability seen in elderly patients. Too much tension and too little exercise greatly increase the natural loss of muscular fitness with age. A systematic program of exercise, stressing relaxation and stretching of tight muscles and strenghthening of weak muscles, can improve physical fitness. The program must be tailored to the patient, starting with relaxation and gentle limbering exercises and proceeding ultimately to vigorous muscle-stretching exercises. Muscle aches and pain from tension and muscle imbalance are to be expected. Relaxation relieves tension pain, and strengthening weak muscles and stretching tight muscles will correct muscle imbalance. To prevent acute muscle spasm, the patient should avoid excessive exertion and increase exercise intensity gradually.
关键姿势肌肉的无力或僵硬会导致老年患者出现许多残疾症状。随着年龄增长，过度紧张和过少运动极大地加剧了肌肉健康的自然衰退。一项系统的锻炼计划，着重于放松和拉伸紧绷的肌肉以及增强虚弱的肌肉，能够改善身体健康状况。该计划必须根据患者的具体情况量身定制，从放松和轻柔的热身运动开始，最终进行到剧烈的肌肉拉伸运动。因紧张和肌肉失衡而产生的肌肉酸痛是可以预料的。放松可缓解紧张性疼痛，增强虚弱肌肉和拉伸紧绷肌肉将纠正肌肉失衡。为防止急性肌肉痉挛，患者应避免过度劳累，并逐渐增加运动强度。
