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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2006

Open Access 01-12-2006 | Research

Physical activity is related to quality of life in older adults

Authors: Luke S Acree, Jessica Longfors, Anette S Fjeldstad, Cecilie Fjeldstad, Bob Schank, Kevin J Nickel, Polly S Montgomery, Andrew W Gardner

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2006

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Abstract

Background

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.
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Metadata
Title
Physical activity is related to quality of life in older adults
Authors
Luke S Acree
Jessica Longfors
Anette S Fjeldstad
Cecilie Fjeldstad
Bob Schank
Kevin J Nickel
Polly S Montgomery
Andrew W Gardner
Publication date
01-12-2006
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2006
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-4-37

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