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 .
The effects of aerobic exercise and T'ai Chi on blood pressure in older people: results of a randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE To compare the effects on blood pressure of a 12-week moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program and a T'ai Chi program of light activity . DESIGN A r and omized clinical trial . SETTING A suburban clinic in the Baltimore , MD , area . PARTICIPANTS Sixty-two sedentary older adults ( 45 % black , 79 % women , aged > or = 60 years ) with systolic blood pressure 130 - 159 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure < 95 mm Hg ( not on antihypertensive medication ) . INTERVENTION Participants were r and omized to a 12-week aerobic exercise program or a light intensity T'ai Chi program . The goal of each condition was to exercise 4 days per week , 30 minutes per day . MEASUREMENTS Blood pressure was measured during three screening visits and every 2 weeks during the intervention . Estimated maximal oxygen uptake and measures of physical activity level were determined at baseline and at the end of the intervention period . RESULTS Mean ( SD ) baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 139.9 ( 9.3 ) mm Hg and 76.0 ( 7.3 ) mm Hg , respectively . For systolic blood pressure , adjusted mean ( SE ) changes during the 12-week intervention period were -8.4 ( 1.6 ) mm Hg and -7.0 ( 1.6 ) mm Hg in the aerobic exercise and T'ai Chi groups , respectively ( each within-group P < .001 ; between-group P = .56 ) . For diastolic blood pressure , corresponding changes were -3.2 ( 1.0 ) mm Hg in the aerobic exercise group and -2.4 ( 1.0 ) mm Hg in the T'ai Chi group ( each within-group P < .001 ; between-group P = .54 ) . Body weight did not change in either group . Estimated maximal aerobic capacity tended to increase in aerobic exercise ( P = .06 ) but not in T'ai Chi ( P = .24 ) . CONCLUSIONS Programs of moderate intensity aerobic exercise and light exercise may have similar effects on blood pressure in previously sedentary older individuals . If additional trials confirm these results , promoting light intensity activity could have substantial public health benefits as a means to reduce blood pressure in older aged persons
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 .