Biography
Prof. Mohammod Monirul Islam
Prof. Mohammod Monirul Islam
National Institute of Fitness and Sports, Bangladesh
Title: Elderly friendly home-based and community-based physical exercises
Abstract: 
Aging is associated with declines in activities of daily living (ADL) and physical function that can lead to physical impairment, disability, and loss of independence (Spirduso, 2005). Due to a significant change in demography, many older adults in recent days get minimum assistance from others while performing their ADL. Reduction of lean body mass (particularly the skeletal muscle mass) and muscular strength are important factors associated with age. Both the decreased muscle mass and muscular strength diminish the capacity to perform ADL, retain employment or participate in social events; in short, there occurs reductions in the overall quality of life. An optimum and regular physical exercise programs along with an appropriate caloric intake may offset aging-associated declines in physical health.

The number of elderly population is increasing rapidly in many developed countries (for instance, it is predicted that by 2025, 28% of the population in Japan will be over the age of 65 years). This suggests that supervised laboratory-based exercise programs in a few specialized centers will not provide sufficient access to exercise for all older adults. To respond to these changing demographics and to ensure that all older adults can realize the benefits of participating in regular physical activity, community-based exercise programs must be developed.

On the other hand, open spaces such as public parks and lakes are becoming occupied by unauthorized vendors and merchants in order to construct either new shopping malls or other kind of business centers in many developing countries. As a result, open spaces to perform outdoor physical exercises are decreasing in number and sizes each year in these countries which is affecting badly the health and wellbeing of the general population. To address this issue professionally, home-based or community-based physical exercise program (Islam et al., 2016) could be a better alternative of outdoor exercises for middle aged and older people in these countries.

In our community outreach physical exercise programs, we use elderly friendly mode of exercise such as elastic band-based resistance exercise, chair-based stretching and aerobic exercises etc. As a part of our well rounded exercises, we conduct balance training either in sitting position or on standing position depending upon the level of fitness of the participants. In our exercise program, we sometimes use less expensive, portable, recyclable PET water bottles as an alternative to the conventional heavy and expensive machines to perform cost-effective resistance exercises especially for older adults of low socio-economic status.

The concept of home-based and community-based physical exercises is not yet well known in many developing countries. However, methodical practice of these exercises by older adults from around the world may contribute to the fulfillment of a sustainable development goal (SDG) named Healthcare through health promotion in these people. 
Biography: 

Dr. Islam conducts research on Exercise Gerontology with special focus on home-based and community-based physical exercises suitable for older adults of different fitness level. Home-based exercises are beneficial for people who have limitations in enjoying well-equipped fitness club facilities due to various reasons both in developed countries as well as in developing countries. 

At his home-based and community-based exercise programs, participants commonly perform the training while sitting on a chair that ensures further safety while working out. Dr. Islam prefers to use recyclable PET water bottles as muscle training tools instead of conventional heavy and expensive training machines (cost-effective). 

Dr. Islam believes that methodical practice of home-based and community-based exercises by older adults from around the world may contribute to the fulfillment of a sustainable development goal (SDG) named Healthcare through health promotion in these people. 

Until recently, Dr. Islam wrote more than sixty scientific papers and presented his research works in about 200 scientific meetings, mostly at international settings.