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 .
Primary care-based physical activity programs: effectiveness in sedentary older patients with osteoarthritis symptoms.
OBJECTIVE This study examined , in a group of older patients , ( a ) the effectiveness of an invitation to participate in a program providing individualized physical activity advice in a primary care setting and ( b ) the changes in self-reported physical activity and symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis ( OA ) . METHODS Healthy , sedentary community-dwelling men and women aged 60 years or more were invited to participate . Following r and om allocation , the intervention group received individualized physical activity advice at baseline and at 3 , 6 , and 12 months followup . RESULTS Of the 299 people who satisfied the study 's inclusion criteria , a subgroup of 69 people reported pain and stiffness of the hip or knee at baseline . These patients reported increases in frequency and time of walking and vigorous exercise ( all P < 0.001 ) , with no change to OA symptom scores ( pain and stiffness ) , and a small decline in physical functioning was reported at 12 months followup in the control group only ( P = 0.027 ) . At the 12-month followup more intervention participants than control participants ( P = 0.013 ) reported a greater intention to exercise . CONCLUSIONS An offer of primary care-based physical activity advice , with an emphasis on the benefits for general health ( rather than " treatment " for OA ) , will attract individuals with OA symptoms . Although the present study was unable to demonstrate intervention-control group differences for the majority of outcomes , intention to exercise did appear to be positively influenced
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 .