Physical Activity Levels in a Structured Physical Exercise Community Program in Elderly

Abstract

PURPOSE: A decline in physical activity levels in older people is related with worsening of quality of life and a lower cardiorespiratory fitness level, which are associated with cardiovascular disease events and mortality from all causes. The aim of this study was to survey the level of self-reported physical activity in elderly people practicing different levels of physical activity program. An urban community of Sao Paulo was investigated. METHODS: This was a community-based cross-sectional study of a cohort of 50 individuals aged 60 or over, participating in a 6-month structured physical exercise community program and a control group of 50 sedentary elderly individuals age-matched. The structured physical exercise community program adheres to the Position Stand of the American College of Sports Medicine, as it included combined aerobic exercise, muscle strengthening exercises, and flexibility exercises. Physical activity levels were evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). RESULTS: The group participating in a physical exercise program had significantly higher levels of physical activity in the moderate activity (318.8 ± 561.8 vs. 238.5 ± 831.6 MET-min/wk, p < 0.001), vigorous (125.8 ± 245.7 vs. 66.2 ± 228.9 MET-min/wk, p < 0.002) and total activity (846.0 ± 951.1 vs 691.0 ± 1239.1 MET-min/wk, p < 0.05). No differences between these groups were observed in walking activity (275.6 ± 289.8 vs. 320.1 ± 498.4 MET-min/wk, p = 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: Our structured physical exercise community program proved effective in order to overcome the decline in physical activity levels in elderly population.