Exercise provides health benefits even among those 80 years and older.

Riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill twice a week for about 20 minutes each time resulted in notable health improvements according to a 6-month study of 22 elderly people.

Prior to the study, the participants were inactive and some had health concerns such as coronary artery disease and arthritis.

The exercise led to improvements in peak oxygen consumption, which measures how well a person transports and uses oxygen during exercise. The more a person exercised, the greater their improvement. In addition, systolic blood pressure, the top number in a blood pressure reading, dropped among the study participants and aerobic endurance improved.

More benefits were seen from use of the stationary bike than the treadmill, possibly because older people may have trouble keeping their balance on a treadmill.

Researchers say that, ideally, an exercise program for elderly people would include strength-building exercises, such as weight lifting, and balance training, such as yoga, in addition to aerobic exercise.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society December 2002;50:2009-2013