Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2009 Jan;43(1):28-31.
doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2008.053736. Epub 2008 Oct 16.

Physical activity and maintaining physical function in older adults

Affiliations
Review

Physical activity and maintaining physical function in older adults

T M Manini et al. Br J Sports Med. 2009 Jan.
No abstract available

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Physical function as viewed with increasing age and onset of disease. Physical activity (PA) is thought to impact physical function at many stages throughout life to change the trajectory of decline. Dotted lines represent new trajectory with beginning and maintaining a PA program Additionally, beginning a PA program at an early age may be associated with greater reserve capacity and a decline that occurs in later life.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cumulative hazard of time until major mobility disability and until major mobility disability according to randomized groups [PA or a Successful Aging (SA) health education control group] in the LIFE-P study. (HR = hazard ratio; CI = confidence interval).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Algorithm summarizing the ACSM/AHA current recommendations for physical activity in older adults to improve physical function and potentially to prevent physical disability. Clinicians are encouraged to assess health history is guiding the exercise prescription for improving physical function. Moderate intensity (MI) exercise should be gauged as a 5–6 on a 10 point effort scale (0 = sitting & 10 = all-out effort). Vigorous intensity (VI) exercise should be a 7 or 8 on this same scale.

References

    1. Troiano RP, Berrigan D, Dodd KW, Masse LC, Tilert T, McDowell M. Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008 Jan;40(1):181–188. - PubMed
    1. Rice DP, Fineman N. Economic implications of increased longevity in the United States. Annu Rev Public Health. 2004;25:457–473. - PubMed
    1. Fried TR, Bradley EH, Williams CS, Tinetti ME. Functional disability and health care expenditures for older persons. Arch Intern Med. 2001;161(21):2602–2607. - PubMed
    1. Wang G, Pratt M, Macera CA, Zheng ZJ, Heath G. Physical activity, cardiovascular disease, and medical expenditures in U.S. adults. Ann Behav Med. 2004 Oct;28(2):88–94. - PubMed
    1. Guideline for the prevention of falls in older persons. American Geriatrics Society, British Geriatrics Society, and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Panel on Falls Prevention. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001 May;49(5):664–672. - PubMed