Article which may be of interest.
well wishes,
Kate

Physical activity is related to quality of life in older adults. Luke S Acree ,
Jessica Longfors , Anette S Fjeldstad , Cecilie Fjeldstad , Bob Shank , Kevin J
Nickel , Polly S Montgomery and Andrew W Gardner

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2006, 4:37 doi:10.1186/1477-7525-4-37

Full article: http://www.hqlo.com/content/4/1/37

Abstract

Physical activity is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQL) in
clinical populations, but less is known whether this relationship exists in
older men and women who are healthy. Thus, this study determined if physical
activity was related to HRQL in apparently healthy, older subjects.

Methods

Measures were obtained from 112 male and female volunteers (70 +/- 8 years, mean
+/- SD) recruited from media advertisements and flyers around the Norman,
Oklahoma area. Data was collected using a medical history questionnaire, HRQL
from the Medical Outcomes Survey short form-36 questionnaire, and physical
activity level from the Johnson Space Center physical activity scale. Subjects
were separated into either a higher physically active group (n = 62) or a lower
physically active group (n = 50) according to the physical activity scale.

Results

The HRQL scores in all eight domains were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the
group reporting higher physical activity. Additionally, the more active group
had fewer females (44% vs. 72%, p = 0.033), and lower prevalence of hypertension
(39% vs. 60%, p = 0.041) than the low active group. After adjusting for gender
and hypertension, the more active group had higher values in the following five
HRQL domains: physical function (82 +/- 20 vs. 68 +/- 21, p = 0.029),
role-physical (83 +/- 34 vs. 61 +/- 36, p = 0.022), bodily pain (83 +/- 22 vs.
66 +/- 23, p = 0.001), vitality (74 +/- 15 vs. 59 +/- 16, p = 0.001), and social
functioning (92 +/- 18 vs. 83 +/- 19, p = 0.040). General health,
role-emotional, and mental health were not significantly different (p > 0.05)
between the two groups.

Conclusion

Healthy older adults who regularly participated in physical activity of at least
moderate intensity for more than one hour per week had higher HRQL measures in
both physical and mental domains than those who were less physically active.
Therefore, incorporating more physical activity into the lifestyles of sedentary
or slightly active older individuals may improve their HRQL.

*~+~*~+~*
Kate Walker
URL: http://www.whitepage.com.au/Mytanwy/7232