[The strain of physiotherapeutical treatment in elderly patients (author's transl)]

The strain of physiotherapeutical treatment in elderly patients depends on their age, their disease and on the type of the physiotherapy chosen. A survey carried out on 296 patients primarily suffering from heart circulation disease in the preclinical and clinical stage has shown that in case of elderly patients one generally must reckon with a latent heart and circulation disease. The risk of complications arising as result of the physiotherapy with respect to the heart and circulation system can be reduced by a thorough diagnosis. The relative intensity of the exercise employed should be on the low side. The risk particularly rises if the performance exceeds 80% of the maximal physical endurability involving the ergometer and gymnastical training with an average increase of the heart frequency over 120/min., swimming in cool water, balneotherapy in the full bath and exercises using mainly extensive isometrical actions.