Greater physical activity of an aerobic nature ( categorized by a variety of methods ) was associated with higher functional status ( expressed by a host of outcome measures ) in older age .
For functional independence , moderate ( and high ) levels of physical activity appeared effective in conferring a reduced risk ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) of functional limitations or disability .
Limitation in higher level performance outcomes was reduced ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) with vigorous ( or high ) activity with an apparent dose-response of moderate through to high activity .
Exercise training interventions ( including aerobic and resistance ) of older adults showed improvement in physiological and functional measures , and suggestion of longer-term reduction in incidence of mobility disability .
A relatively high level of physical activity was related to better cognitive function and reduced risk of developing dementia ; however , there were mixed results of the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive function indices .
Conclusions There is a consistency of findings across studies and a range of outcome measures related to functional independence ; regular aerobic activity and short-term exercise programmes confer a reduced risk of functional limitations and disability in older age .
Although a precise characterization of a minimal or effective physical activity dose to maintain functional independence is difficult , it appears moderate to higher levels of activity are effective and there may be a threshold of at least moderate activity for significant outcomes
Background The purpose was to conduct systematic review s of the relationship between physical activity of healthy community-dwelling older ( > 65 years ) adults and outcomes of  functional limitations , disability , or loss of independence .
Resistance exercise and physical performance in adults aged 60 to 83.
OBJECTIVES This investigation examined the effect of 6 months of high- or low-intensity resistance exercise on muscular strength and endurance and stair climbing ability in adults aged 60 to 83 . DESIGN A r and omized controlled trial . SETTING University of Florida Center for Exercise Science . PARTICIPANTS Sixty-two men and women completed the study protocol . Subjects were matched for strength and r and omly assigned to a control ( n = 16 ) , low-intensity ( LEX , n = 24 ) , or high-intensity ( HEX , n = 22 ) group . INTERVENTION Six months of progressive , whole-body resistance training . Subjects trained at 50 % of their one-repetition maximum ( 1RM ) for 13 repetitions ( LEX ) or 80 % of 1RM for eight repetitions ( HEX ) three times per week for 24 weeks using resistance machines . One set each of 12 exercises was performed . MEASUREMENTS One-repetition maximum was measured for eight different exercises . Muscular endurance was measured using leg press and chest press machines . Low back strength was measured using a lumbar extension machine . Stair climbing ability was assessed as the time to ascend one flight of stairs . RESULTS 1RM significantly increased for all exercises tested for the HEX and LEX groups ( P < or = .050 ) . The increases in total strength ( sum of all eight 1RMs ) were 17.2 % and 17.8 % for the LEX and HEX groups , respectively . Muscular endurance improved by 79.2 % and 105.0 % for the leg press , and 75.5 % and 68.0 % for the chest press for the LEX and HEX groups , respectively . The time to ascend one flight of stairs significantly decreased for both the LEX and HEX groups ( P < or = .050 ) . Lumbar extension strength increased by 62.6 % and 39.5 % for the LEX and HEX groups , respectively . CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that significant and similar improvements in strength , endurance , and stair climbing time can be obtained in older adults as a consequence of high- or low-intensity resistance exercise training . These findings may have an effect on how resistance exercise is prescribed to older adults
Greater physical activity of an aerobic nature ( categorized by a variety of methods ) was associated with higher functional status ( expressed by a host of outcome measures ) in older age .
For functional independence , moderate ( and high ) levels of physical activity appeared effective in conferring a reduced risk ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) of functional limitations or disability .
Limitation in higher level performance outcomes was reduced ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) with vigorous ( or high ) activity with an apparent dose-response of moderate through to high activity .
Exercise training interventions ( including aerobic and resistance ) of older adults showed improvement in physiological and functional measures , and suggestion of longer-term reduction in incidence of mobility disability .
A relatively high level of physical activity was related to better cognitive function and reduced risk of developing dementia ; however , there were mixed results of the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive function indices .
Conclusions There is a consistency of findings across studies and a range of outcome measures related to functional independence ; regular aerobic activity and short-term exercise programmes confer a reduced risk of functional limitations and disability in older age .
Although a precise characterization of a minimal or effective physical activity dose to maintain functional independence is difficult , it appears moderate to higher levels of activity are effective and there may be a threshold of at least moderate activity for significant outcomes
Background The purpose was to conduct systematic review s of the relationship between physical activity of healthy community-dwelling older ( > 65 years ) adults and outcomes of  functional limitations , disability , or loss of independence .