Physical fitness related to age and physical activity in older persons

This study investigated physical fitness as a function of age and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in a community-based sample of 624 persons aged 57 yr and older. LTPA during the last 12 months was assessed through personal interviews. A wide range of physical fitness components was measured u...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medicine and science in sports and exercise 1998-03, Vol.30 (3), p.434-441
Main Authors: VAN HEUVELEN, M. J. G, KEMPEN, G. I. J. M, ORMEL, J, RISPENS, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Aged
Aging - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Chi-Square Distribution
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Leisure Activities
Male
Middle Aged
Physical Endurance
Physical Fitness
Pliability
Postural Balance
Space life sciences
Statistics, Nonparametric
Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports
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Summary:This study investigated physical fitness as a function of age and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in a community-based sample of 624 persons aged 57 yr and older. LTPA during the last 12 months was assessed through personal interviews. A wide range of physical fitness components was measured using performance-based tests. Physical fitness was associated with the interaction age by LTPA in only a few components, in a gender-specific way, with generally larger differences in fitness between active and less active persons with increasing age. All LTPA, including low intensity LTPA, is positively and age-independent associated with most physical fitness components. The importance of LTPA typically participated in by the general population lies not so much in the delaying of the motor aging process but rather in a general, age-independent, positive effect.
ISSN:0195-9131
1530-0315
DOI:10.1097/00005768-199803000-00015