The heterogeneity in reported effects was reduced in higher quality studies , when physical activity was self-directed with some professional guidance and when there was on-going professional support .
Our review suggests that physical activity interventions have a moderate effect on self reported physical activity and cardio-respiratory fitness , but not on achieving a predetermined level of physical activity .
Due to the clinical and statistical heterogeneity of the studies , only limited conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of individual components of the interventions .
BACKGROUND Little is known about the effectiveness of strategies to enable people to achieve an increase in their physical activity .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of interventions for promoting physical activity in adults aged 16 years and older , not living in an institution .
Effects of worksite physical exercise intervention on physical fitness, perceived health status, and work ability among home care workers: five-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE The effects and constancy of a worksite physical exercise intervention were examined in relation to the physical fitness , perceived health status , and work ability of female service workers during periods of 1 and 5 years . METHODS The subjects comprised female home care workers divided into an intervention group ( n = 50 , mean age 41.8 ( SD 10.4 ) years ) and a control group ( n = 37 , mean age 43.3 ( SD 8.8 ) years ) . The intervention group participated in 9 months of supervised exercise intervention twice a week during the workday . Functional capacity , perceived health , and work ability were assessed at the beginning of the study and after a 1- and a 5-year period of follow-up . RESULTS In the 1-year follow-up measurements , body fat had decreased ( 4 % ) and dynamic muscle performance and maximal oxygen consumption in relation to body mass ( 30 - 38 and 7 % , respectively ) had increased in the intervention group . The differences in outcome variables between the intervention and the control groups were significant ( from P = 0.014 to P < 0.001 ) . These positive effects of worksite exercise were observed despite the age of the subjects , and the changes were consistent during a 5-year period . In the control group the decline of the work ability index ( L smean ) was about three times faster than in the intervention group during the 5-year period . CONCLUSIONS Physical exercise executed in work units can be used to improve the physical capacity of female home care aides and prevent the early decline of their work ability . In jobs that are physically dem and ing , such as home care work , early prevention must start before the age-related deterioration of health and physical capacity
The heterogeneity in reported effects was reduced in higher quality studies , when physical activity was self-directed with some professional guidance and when there was on-going professional support .
Our review suggests that physical activity interventions have a moderate effect on self reported physical activity and cardio-respiratory fitness , but not on achieving a predetermined level of physical activity .
Due to the clinical and statistical heterogeneity of the studies , only limited conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of individual components of the interventions .
BACKGROUND Little is known about the effectiveness of strategies to enable people to achieve an increase in their physical activity .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of interventions for promoting physical activity in adults aged 16 years and older , not living in an institution .