Use the Back button in your browser to see the other results of your search or to select another record.

Detailed Search Results

Best-practice physical activity programs for older adults: findings from the national impact study
Hughes SL, Seymour RB, Campbell RT, Whitelaw N, Bazzarre T
American Journal of Public Health 2009 Feb;99(2):362-368
clinical trial
4/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: Yes; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: No; Adequate follow-up: No; Intention-to-treat analysis: No; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: No. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the impact of existing best-practice physical activity programs for older adults on physical activity participation and health-related outcomes. METHODS: We used a multisite, randomized trial with 544 older adults (mean age 66 years) and measures at baseline, 5, and 10 months to test the impact of a multiple-component physical activity program compared with results for a control group that did not participate in such a program. RESULTS: For adults who participated in a multiple-component physical activity program, we found statistically significant benefits at 5 and 10 months with regard to self-efficacy for exercise adherence over time (p < 0.001), adherence in the face of barriers (p = 0.01), increased upper- and lower-body strength (p = 0.02, p = 0.01), and exercise participation (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Best-practice community-based physical activity programs can measurably improve aspects of functioning that are risk factors for disability among older adults. US public policy should encourage these inexpensive health promotion programs.
Copyright by the American Public Health Association.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help