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 .
Walking with its training effects on the fitness and activity patterns of 79-91 year old females.
BACKGROUND Information is lacking about the physiological and psychosocial effects of exercise among very old persons . AIM To investigate the effect of a twice-weekly , six-month progressive walking programme on 38 healthy women in their ninth decade , for evidence of the benefits of exercise . METHODS Aerobic fitness , blood pressure , skinfold thickness and habitual activity patterns were studied in a r and omised controlled trial . Women were chosen , as this is a group of increasing demographic importance for which studies are lacking . RESULTS The training group and control group were not significantly different at baseline . However , after six months of progressive exercise the training group showed lower resting ( p < 0.05 ) and working ( p < 0.005 ) heart rates compared with non-exercising controls . ANCOVA analyses indicated higher scores for the training group compared with the control group for Maximum Current Activity and Normative Impairment Index ( both p < 0.001 ) , which are both components of the Habitual Activity Profile . Morale also significantly improved within the training group ( p < 0.01 ) . CONCLUSIONS These data show the trainability of very old women and the positive impact a low frequency , progressive exercise programme can have on cardiorespiratory fitness and daily living activity patterns . Such improvements are likely to be indicative of an enhanced outlook for independence
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 .