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 .
Randomised controlled trial of exercise in the elderly.
Eighty-seven healthy volunteers aged 60 - 81 years were r and omly allocated to either an aerobic exercise class or a health education group . Only 6 subjects dropped out during the 32-week study , and the average compliance with the interventions was 83 % for exercise ( on average 83/100 individual exercise sessions were attended ) and 71 % for health education . The health education group showed improvements from the baseline in physical activity levels , pulse rate , blood pressure and self-rating of mood . The exercise group improved from baseline in knee and spine flexibility , leg and back strength , pulse rate , blood pressure , maximum physical exertion levels , self-rating of mood and perceived health status . Between group comparison at the end of the study showed the exercise group significantly better than the health education group in terms of spine flexion ( p < 0.0001 ) , perceived health status ( p < 0.05 ) , life satisfaction ( p = 0.05 ) and maximal physical exertion ( p = 0.01 ) . This study has demonstrated the acceptability and effectiveness of an aerobic exercise class for the elderly , and the effectiveness of health education for this age group
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 .