Another Vote For Fitness
Study: Moderate physical activity helps older people stay mobile
It may seem obvious, but now there’s proof: Physical activity of moderate intensity can help older people stay mobile and independent, according to the largest clinical trial ever done on the issue.
The study, presented Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Orlando, Fla., involved researchers at eight field centers.
A physical activity program consisting of aerobic, resistance and flexibility exercises significantly reduced the risk of a major mobility disability, researchers found.
“Until this study, we didn’t have the proof necessary to say that daily exercise, sustained over several years, truly can prevent loss of mobility,” said Anne Newman, chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health, which participated in the study. “Doctors can now feel confident that moderate physical activity improves the independence and mobility of older adults.”
For purposes of the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) study, a “major mobility disability” was defined as an inability to walk 400 meters, or about a quarter of a mile.
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Category: Articles, Fitness, Senior Health
