Recommended Reads: Fitness and Wellness for an Aging Population

Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity --John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Increased exercise and improved wellness benefits everyone. Exercise can help you to take charge of your health and maintain a level of fitness necessary for an active, independent lifestyle.

Many people think that as we age, we tend to slow down and do less; and that physical decline is an inevitable consequence of aging. According to The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, much of the physical frailty attributed to aging is actually the result of inactivity, disease, or poor nutrition.

Many problems can be helped or even reversed by improving lifestyle behaviors. One of the major benefits of regular physical activity is protection against heart disease. Physical activity also provides some protection against other chronic diseases such as adult-onset diabetes, asthma, arthritis, hypertension, certain cancers, osteoporosis and depression.

These books can help you to embark on a path to improve your wellness and fitness.

Prepared by Rachel Gould, Children & Youth Services Librarian
Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library

Recorded cassette (RC), digital book (DB), braille (BR), and large type (LT) copies of these books are available from the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library. Please contact the library to order any of these books.

American Medical Association Complete Guide to Prevention and Wellness: What You Need to Know about Preventing Illness, Staying Healthy, and Living Longer by American Medical Association.
RC 67870, DB 67870 (BARD Download Only)
Discusses the importance of proper nutrition, weight, and exercise. Outlines preventive measures for various health problems and ways to keep specific body parts fit, including the reproductive system. Covers the needs of children and adolescents and issues such as premature aging.

T'ai Chi for Seniors: How to Gain Flexibility, Strength, and Inner Peace by Philip Bonifonte.
RC 68552, DB 68552  (BARD Download Only)
Presents an overview of the Chinese practice of t'ai chi--either standing or sitting--which the author touts as a healthy and safe exercise option for mature adults. Examines the Taoist philosophy and history behind t'ai chi, in addition to providing an introduction to qigong exercises and meditation. Includes step-by-step instructions.

Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause by Boston Women's Health Book Collective.
BR 17837, RC 66354, DB 66354  (BARD Download Only)
Describes the process of menopause for women and covers health-care options for its symptoms. Includes medical and alternative treatments such as stress management, diet, and exercise. Discusses scientific research studies and encourages women to focus on making good personal health-care decisions. Highlights women's natural life transitions.

The American Yoga Association's Easy Does It Yoga: The Safe and Gentle Way to Health and Well-Being by Alice Christensen.
RC 54110
A beginning breathing, exercise, and meditation program for older adults and those with medical conditions or a more sedentary lifestyle. Discusses nutrition, meditation, philosophy, and stress-reducing techniques. Lists routines that can be used from a wheelchair or bed.

How to Avoid Falling: A Guide for Active Aging and Independence by Eric Fredrikson.
BR 16281, RC 60547, DB 60547 (BARD Download Only)
Accident avoidance specialist offers a guide to preventing falls -- the leading cause of injuries to U.S. seniors. Provides information on fall-proofing the home; negotiating stairs; avoiding hazards such as escalators, uneven sidewalks, and ice; choosing a cane or walker; and recovering after a fall. Includes exercises and useful web sites.

Quantum Wellness: A Practical and Spiritual Guide to Health and Happiness by Kathy Freston.
RC/DB 67076
Believing wellness to involve the body, mind, and spirit, Freston teaches ways to become aware of the state of all three areas and uses a cross-training approach to address any concerns. Tools include meditation, visualization, conscious eating, exercise, self-work, spiritual practice, and service. Includes recipes. Bestseller.

The Diabetes Lifestyle Book: Facing Your Fears & Making Changes for a Long & Healthy Life by Jennifer Gregg.
RC 66790, DB 66790  (BARD Download Only)
Psychologists offer a guide to coping with the anxieties and emotions that often inhibit the proper self-management of diabetes. Describes the principles and techniques of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), an approach to embracing the lifestyle changes that are necessary to control the disease. Covers diet, exercise, and medication.

Can't Remember What I Forgot: The Good News from the Front Lines of Memory Research by Sue Halpern.
BR 17912, RC/DB 67214
Science writer Halpern recounts her three-year investigation into medical research on Alzheimer's disease and other memory disorders. Describes studies involving food, herbal supplements, and game playing. Reports her findings that age-related memory loss is normal and that regular physical exercise boosts memory recall.

Living Through Breast Cancer: What A Harvard Doctor and Survivor Wants You to Know About Getting the Best Care While Preserving Your Self-Image by Carolyn M. Kaelin.
RC 60811, DB 60811 (BARD Download Only)
Addresses medical and emotional aspects of coping with breast cancer. Covers understanding your diagnosis, treatment options with surgery and/or drugs, maintaining your physical appearance, and managing menopause. Provides guidance on after-treatment issues, fertility, diet and exercise, includes resources.

Heal Your Aching Back: What a Harvard Doctor Wants You to Know About Finding Relief & Keeping Your Back Strong by Jeffrey Neil Katz.
RC 66352, DB 66352  (BARD Download Only)
Describes the anatomy of the back, numerous causes of back pain, factors that put some people at greater risk, and tests and specialists that may be involved when getting a diagnosis. Discusses ways to control pain and manage a back condition, including complementary therapies, exercises, surgery, and medication.

The Body, Mind, Soul Solution: Healing Emotional Pain Through Exercise by Bob Livingstone.
RC 65832, DB 65832  (BARD Download Only)
Clinical therapist's holistic approach to finding balance among mental, physical, and emotional health. Livingstone advocates a technique of self-questioning combined with an exercise regimen to promote calmness, self-esteem, mental strength, and physical well-being. Includes case studies in which patients connected to their higher selves.

Knee Surgery: The Essential Guide to Total Knee Recovery by Daniel Fulham O'Neill.
DB 68259  (BARD download Only)
Renowned knee surgeon and sports psychologist discusses mental and physical effects of knee surgeries such as knee arthroscopy, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, and total knee replacement. Details a three-pronged recovery program including multilevel exercises, movement patterns for work and sports, and aerobic training. Also addresses frequently asked questions.

The Spectrum: A Scientifically Proven Program to Feel Better, Live Longer, Lose Weight, and Gain Health by Dean Ornish.
RC/DB 67814
Dr. Ornish, known for his lifestyle program for reversing heart disease, details a broader range of methods for eating, exercising, and managing stress to achieve health. He discusses choosing from a spectrum of options for losing weight, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, and preventing diabetes and cancers. Includes recipes.

You, Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending Your Warranty by Mehmet Oz and Michael F. Roizen
RC 65521, DB 65521  (BARD Download Only)
Physician authors of You: The Owner's Manual offer advice on staying fit, strong, and healthy into one's eighties. They discuss increasing life expectancy by dealing with genes, bad habits, environmental toxins, and stress levels. The doctors also advocate exercise, balanced nutrition, and mental and social activities. Bestseller.

Conquering Diabetes: A Cutting-Edge, Comprehensive Program for Prevention and Treatment by Anne L. Peters.
RC 60385, DB 60385  (BARD Download Only)
Diabetologist urges patients to take charge of their disease by developing a lifestyle plan that includes finding a team of professionals to assist in nutrition, exercise, and medications. Explains type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Discusses pre-diabetes, the importance of knowing family history, and prevention of complications.

I'm Not Slowing Down: Winning my Battle with Osteoporosis by Ann Richards.
BR 15082
Former Texas governor describes her battle to arrest osteopenia, an early stage of osteoporosis often triggered by hormonal changes in postmenopausal women. Along with coauthor and physician Richard Levine, she describes dietary measures, medication, and exercise aimed at controlling the condition. Also includes information on hormone replacement therapy.

O's Big Book of Happiness: The Best of O, the Oprah Magazine; Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews, and Inspiration by Terri L. Robertson.
RC 68200, DB 68200  (BARD Download Only)
Many of this collection's more than one hundred articles and interviews from Oprah Winfrey's magazine focus on personal fulfillment. Topics include dieting and exercise, aging, faith, relationships, and dreaming big. Other entries cover such issues as global conflicts and the environment. Some strong language.

Water Exercises for Osteoarthritis: The Effective Way to Reduce Pain and Stiffness, While Increasing Endurance and Strength by Ann A. Rosenstein.
RC 65400, DB 65400  (BARD Download Only)
Fitness instructor explains osteoarthritis and the use of water exercises to treat it. Includes instructions for movements that will improve range of motion, strength, and endurance. Also provides safety tips, diet recommendations, and alternative remedies.

What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope by Julie K. Silver.
BR 18249, RC 68039, DB 68039  (BARD Download Only)
Breast cancer survivor and medical doctor uses her experience and the comments of other cancer survivors and specialists to explore aspects of fighting the disease. Discusses the need for adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and exercise. Covers spirituality, intimacy, and the importance of seeking help and balancing work and family.

The Myth of Alzheimer's: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis by Peter J. Whitehouse.
LT 10170
Challenges conventional perceptions about Alzheimer's disease to offer readers alternative approaches to memory loss and aging that can be aided through simple nutritional and exercise strategies.

Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating by Walter Willett.
RC/DB 67688
Harvard Medical School professor challenges the USDA food pyramid while explaining his and other scientists' research on the long-term effects of diet on health. Whole grains, healthy oils, fruits, vegetables, good sources of protein, and a multivitamin are among his recommendations. Stresses weight control and exercise. Includes recipes.