Exercise interventions have small clinical benefits on  PA  levels in community-dwelling older adults , with a decline in the observed improvement after six months of the intervention cessation
Exercise is a form of physical activity ( PA ) .
PA is an important marker of health and quality of life in older adults .
The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to assess the effect of exercise-based interventions on an at least six-month follow up PA measure , and to describe the specific strategies implemented during the intervention to strengthen the sustainability of PA in community-dwelling 65 + year-old adults .
A new model of exercise referral scheme in primary care: is the effect on adherence to physical activity sustainable in the long term? A 15-month randomised controlled trial
Introduction Studies had not yet overcome the most relevant barriers to physical activity ( PA ) adherence . An exercise referral scheme ( ERS ) with mechanisms to promote social support might enhance adherence to PA in the long term . Setting A r and omised controlled trial in 10 primary care centres in Spain . Objective To assess the effectiveness of a primary care-based ERS linked to municipal re sources and enhancing social support and social participation in establishing adherence to PA among adults over a 15-month period . Participants 422 insufficiently active participants suffering from at least one chronic condition were included . 220 patients ( 69.5 ( 8.4 ) years ; 136 women ) were r and omly allocated to the  intervention group ( IG ) and 202 ( 68.2 ( 8.9 ) years ; 121 women ) to the control group  ( CG ) . Interventions The IG went through a 12-week st and ardised ERS linked to community re sources and with inclusion of mechanisms to enhance social support . The CG received usual care from their primary care practice . Outcomes The main outcome measure was self-report PA with the International Physical Activity Question naire and secondary outcomes included stages of change and social support to PA practice . Data collection Participant-level data were collected via question naires at baseline , and at months 3 , 9 and 15 . Blinding The study statistician and research assessors were blinded to group allocation . Results Compared with usual care , follow-up data at month 15 for the ERS group showed a significant increase of self-reported PA ( IG : 1373±1845 metabolic equivalents ( MET ) min/week , n=195 ; CG : 919±1454 MET min/week , n=144 ; P=0.009 ) . Higher adherence ( in terms of a more active stage of change ) was associated with higher PA level at baseline and with social support . Conclusions Prescription from ordinary primary care centres staff yielded adherence to PA practice in the long term . An innovative ERS linked to community re sources and enhancing social support had shown to be sustainable in the long term . Trial registration number NCT00714831 ; Results
Exercise interventions have small clinical benefits on  PA  levels in community-dwelling older adults , with a decline in the observed improvement after six months of the intervention cessation
Exercise is a form of physical activity ( PA ) .
PA is an important marker of health and quality of life in older adults .
The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to assess the effect of exercise-based interventions on an at least six-month follow up PA measure , and to describe the specific strategies implemented during the intervention to strengthen the sustainability of PA in community-dwelling 65 + year-old adults .