Hypokinetic Diseases

In 1900 the leading causes of death were infectious diseases like
Tuberculosis and Typhoid. Today the leading causes of death are
HYPOKINETIC diseases (HYPO meaning low and KINETIC meaning movement).
Hypokinetic diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart
disease, strokes, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, anxiety, depression,
arthritis, and low back pain are growing at an alarming rate.
Hypokinetic diseases spread when we believe myths like “old people can
not exercise,” “exercising is dangerous,” or “I don’t have time to
exercise.”

It is very important that we make the time to stop this epidemic from
spreading. You are not the only one at risk. Thes diseases strike the
young and old alike. Spread the word to your children and
grandchildren. Get off the couch, turn off the TV and get going! Your
body is a movement machine, without movement it will collapse.

The Surgeon General of the Unites States recently reported that our
country is plagued with a condition called HYPO-KINETIC DISEASE.
Simply put - hypo means "lack of" and kinetic refers to "movement".
This Lack of movement contributes to many other current diseases such
as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, which are prevalent in our
society and among the top causes of death in our sedentary society.

But the Surgeon General also reports that in some cases, hypokinetic
disease can be drastically reduced or even eliminated through exercise
and lifestyle modification. While this sounds simple, it may actually
be quite complex for individuals with chronic disease and
disabilities.

Hypokinetic Disorders
The major types of hypokinesias are akinesia, hypokinesia,
bradykinesia and rigidity. The hypokinetic diseases are sometimes
referred to as akinetic-rigid syndromes, and are often labeled as
parkinsonisms, since they all have one or several features of
idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). It is important to be aware of
the distinction between IPD and parkinsonism. IPD is one specific
disease, while parkinsonism is any clinical syndrome with features
resembling of IPD, i.e., hypo-/brady-/akinesia and/or rigidity. Thus,
any one of these hypokinetic diseases, including IPD, may accurately
be labeled as a parkinsonism, if the specific diagnosis is not yet
determined. The differential diagnosis of the different types of
parkinsonism is often very difficult since there is large clinical
overlap between the different entities. There are more than 50
differential diagnoses known today. Some of the more important
parkinsonian syndromes, in addition to IPD, are the so-called
Parkinson-Plus Syndromes (where Progressive Supranuclear Paralysis
[PSP], Multiple System Atrophy [MSA] and Cortico Basal Ganglionic
Degeneration [CBGD] are among the most common), Hallervorden-Spatz
disease, Wilson's disease,
Disinhibition-dementia-parkinsonism-amyotrophy Complex (DDPAC),
drug-induced (e.g., neuroleptics) parkinsonism, Diffuse Lewy Body
Disease (DLBD), Motor Neuron Disease - Parkinsonism, and vascular
parkinsonism.

Facts about inactivity

Risks of inactivity

Experts around the world agree that physical inactivity has a serious
impact on health.

Research has shown that being physically inactive increases the risk
for disease, disability and even death. Some of the health problems
linked to being inactive include: (16)

* Heart disease

* Obesity

* High blood pressure

* Type 2 diabetes

* Osteoporosis

* Stroke

* Depression

* Colon cancer

* Premature death

* Falls

Trends in Physical Activity Among Children

For excerpts from the 2000 Physical Activity Monitor, click here

For facts on Physical Activity and Student Learning click here

undefinedThe percentage of overweight boys increased from 15% in 1981
to 35.4% in 1996

undefinedThe percentage of overweight girls increased from 15% in 1981
to 29.2% in 1996

undefinedThe percentage of obesity in children tripled over that
period of time, from 5% to 16.6% for boys and from 5% to 14.6% for
girls

Source: Tremblay, Mark S. and J. Douglas Willms, 2000, Secular Trends
in the Body Mass Index of Canadian Children. Canadian Medical
Association Journal. Vol. 163, No. 11, 1429-1433.

undefined25% of Canadian children are considered to be overweight

undefinedTwo-thirds of Canadian school-aged children are not active
enough for optimal development and they become more inactive as they
get older

Source: The Progress of Canadian Children 2001, Canadian Council on
Social Development.

undefinedPhysical activity reduces stress, strengthens the heart and
lungs, increases energy levels, helps you maintain and achieve a
healthy body weight - and it improves your outlook on life.

Source: Health Canada, 2002

undefinedA recent study by the Canadian Medical Association Journal
showed that the average Canadian child is inactive for three to five
hours a day in front of the TV alone. This does not include the five
to seven hours most children spend sitting in school five days a week

Source: Canadian Medical Association, 2000.

undefinedThe likelihood that children will never smoke is directly
related to the amount of physical activity; more than 80% of Canadians
between the ages of 10 and 24 who are active have never smoked

undefinedGirls who are physically active in sports are 92% less likely
to use drugs and 80% less likely to have unwanted pregnancy

undefinedA 1998 Gallup poll reported that 74% of the Canadian
population is in favour of instituting 30 minutes of daily physical
education in schools. Despite this fact, only 10% of the 15,800
Canadian schools have quality physical education programs daily

Source: The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, 1999,
Sport Nova Scotia, 1997, and The Canadian Association for Health,
Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 1998.

undefinedThe amount of time spent playing video games by Canadian
children is among the highest in the world

Source: Health Behavior in School-aged Children, Research Unit in
Health and Behavioral Change, 2000.

undefinedCanadian children are becoming continuously fatter, weaker
and less flexible

Source: The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute,1998

undefinedOnly 15% of teenagers exercise enough to be physically fit

undefinedThe average child watches 26 hours of TV each week, not
including time spent on the computer and playing video games

Source: 1997 Physical Activity Benchmarks Reports, Canadian Fitness
and Lifestyle Research Institute and the 1998 Campbell Survey on
Well-Being in Canada.

undefinedBeing physically active on a regular basis can reduce by 50%
the relative risk of contracting Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes

Source: Journal of American Medical Association, 1992.

undefinedPhysical activity on a regular basis can increase a person's
average life expectancy by as much as two years

Source: Paffenbarger, 1986.

undefinedRegular physical activity can help prevent and limit the
effects of heart disease and strokes

Source: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, 1993.

undefinedTwo national studies by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and
the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute found that the
health of 63% of Canadian children are threatened because of high
levels of physical inactivity.