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 .
A self-paced step test to predict aerobic fitness in older adults in the primary care clinic.
OBJECTIVES To study the potential usefulness of a submaximal self-paced step test as a prediction of maximal aerobic capacity ( VO2max ) in older adults in the primary care setting . DESIGN Data were collected during a prospect i ve r and omized study of an exercise program . SETTING Four university family medical clinics in London , Ontario , Canada . PARTICIPANTS A r and om sample of 240 healthy older ( > or = 65 ) men ( n = 118 ) and women ( n = 122 ) from four family medical clinics underwent  self-paced step testing in the clinic with a family physician ( n = 16 ) , and step testing and a maximal exercise treadmill test with measurement of respired gases in an exercise laboratory . Testing was done in r and om order ( clinic/laboratory ) separated by 2 weeks and then repeated at 52 weeks , following introduction of an exercise program . Relationships between outcome variables were examined by Pearson correlation coefficients while prediction of VO2max was examined using multivariate regression analysis . Cross-validation with 30 age-matched hypertensive and 40 age-matched post-hip arthroplasty patients was used to test the accuracy of the predictive models . MEASUREMENTS Measured VO2max , predicted VO2max , step test time , step test heart rate , body mass index ( BMI ) , and O2 pulse . RESULTS Two hundred women ( n = 108 ) and men ( n = 92 ) completed both the initial and 52-week assessment s. Stepping time , heart rate , age , BMI , and O2 pulse were strongly associated with VO2max for both a normal and a fast step pace and were chosen to develop the predictive model . Normal step-pace correlation with VO2max ( ml/kg/min ) was no different ( female 0.93 : male 0.91 ) from fast pace ( 0.95:0.90 ) with no difference between clinic and laboratory measurement at baseline or 52 weeks . Cross-validation showed no significant difference from the main group using the predictive model . CONCLUSIONS The self-paced step test is a safe and simple clinical instrument that strongly and reliably predicts VO2max , is sensitive to change , and is generalizable in the family practice setting among community-dwelling older adults differing in fitness and health status
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 .