Skip to main content
Log in

Physical Activity in Older Adults

An Overview of Health Benefits

  • Leading Article
  • Published:
Sports Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • American College of Sports Medicine. Position stand: the recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in healthy adults. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 22 (2): 265–274, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  • American College of Sports Medicine. Guidelines for exercise testing and prescription, 4th ed., Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  • Amery A, Britko P, Clement D, DeSchaepdryver A, Fagard R, et al. Mortality and morbidity results from the European working party on high blood pressure in the elderly trial. Lancet 1: 1349–1355, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andres R. Effect of obesity on total mortality. International Journal of Obesity 4: 381–386, 1980

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ballor DL, Keesey RE. A meta-analysis of the factors affecting exercise-induced changes in body mass, fat mass and fat-free mass in males and females. International Journal of Obesity 5: 717–726, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  • Benfante R, Reed D. Is elevated serum cholesterol a risk factor for coronary heart disease in the elderly? Journal of American Medical Association 263: 393–396, 1990

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bjorntorp P. Possible mechanisms relating fat distribution and metabolism. In Bouchard & Johnston (Eds) Fat distribution during growth and later health outcomes, Alan R. Liss, New York, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjorntorp P, DeJounge K, Sjostrom L, Sullivan L. The effect of physical training on insulin production in obesity. Metabolism 19: 631–638, 1970

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blair SN, Brill PA, Kohl HW III. Physical activity patterns in older individuals. In American Academy of Physical Education Papers (no. 22), Physical activity and aging, pp. 120–139, Human Kinetics Books, Champaign, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  • Blair SN, Goodyear NN, Gibbons LW, Cooper KH. Physical fitness and incidence of hypertension in healthy normotensive men and women. Journal of the American Medical Association 252: 487–490, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blair SN, Kohl III HW, Paffenbarger RS, Clark DG, Cooper KH, et al. Physical fitness and all-cause mortality: a prospective study of healthy men and women. Journal of the American Medical Association 262: 2395–2401, 1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bortz WM. Disuse and aging. Journal of the American Medical Association 248: 1203–1208, 1982

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bouchard C, Shephard RJ, Stephens T, Sutton JR, McPherson BD (Eds) Exercise, fitness and health: the consensus statement. In Exercise, fitness and health: a consensus of current knowledge, p. 5, Human Kinetics Publishers Inc., Champaign, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  • Brownell KD, Stunkard AJ. Physical activity in the development and control of obesity. In Stunkard (Ed.) Obesity, pp. 300–324, W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  • Cade R, Mars D, Wagemaker H, Zauner C, Packer D, et al. American Journal of Medicine 77: 785–790, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caspersen CJ, Bloemberg BPM, Saris WHM, Merritt RK, Kromhout D. The prevalence of selected physical activities and their relation with coronary heart disease risk factors in elderly men: the Zutphen Study, 1985. American Journal of Epidemiology 133: 1078–1092, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castelli WP. Cholesterol and lipids in the risk of coronary artery disease: the Framingham Heart Study. Canadian Journal of Cardiology (Suppl. A): 5A–10A, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  • Castelli WP, Wilson PWF, Levy D, Anderson K. Cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly. American Journal of Cardiology 63: 12H–19H, 1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association. Treatment of obesity in adults. Journal of the American Medical Association 260: 2547–2551, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper C, Barker DJP, Wickham C. Physical activity, muscle strength and calcium intake in fracture of the proximal femur in Britain. British Medical Journal 297: 1443–1446, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper KR, Pollock ML, Martin RP, White SR, Linnerud AC, et al. Physical fitness vs selected coronary risk factors: a cross-sectional study. Journal of the American Medical Association 236: 166–169, 1976

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cress ME, Thomas DP, Johnson J, Kasch FW, Cassens RG, et al. Effect of training on VO2max, thigh strength and muscle morphology in septuagenarian women. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 23 (6): 752–758, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cummings SR, Kelsey JL, Nevitt MC, O’Dowd KJ. Epidemiology of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. Epidemiologic Reviews 7: 178–208, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dalsky GP. The role of exercise in the prevention of osteoporosis. Comprehensive Therapy 15: 30–37, 1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dannenberg AL, Keller JB, Wilson PWF, Castelli WP. Leisuretime physical activity in the Framingham Offspring Study. American Journal of Epidemiology 129: 76–88, 1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Despres JP, Moorjani S, Lupien PL, Tremblay A, Nadeau A, et al. Regional distribution of body fat, plasma lipoproteins, and cardiovascular disease. Arteriosclerosis 10: 497–511, 1990

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Despres JP, Tremblay A, Nadeau A, Bouchard C. Physical training and changes in regional adipose tissue distribution. Acta Medica Scandinavica (Suppl. 723): 205–212, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  • Donahue R, Abbott R, Reed D, Yano K. Physical activity and coronary heart disease in middle-aged and elderly men: the Honolulu Heart Program. American Journal of Public Health 78 (6): 683–685, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan JJ, Gordon NF, Scott CB. Women walking for health and fitness: how much is enough? Journal of the American Medical Association 266: 3295–3299, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dyckwall K, Flower J. Age wave: challenges and opportunities for an aging America, St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekelund LG, Haskell WL, Johnson JL, Whaley FS, Criqui MH, et al. Physical fitness as a predictor of cardiovascular mortality in asymptomatic North American men: the Lipid Research Clinics Mortality Follow-Up Study. New England Journal of Medicine 319: 1379–1384, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein LH, Wing RR. Aerobic exercise and weight. Addictive Behavior 5: 371–388, 1980

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang C-L, Sherman WP, Crouse SF, Toison H. Exercise modality and selected coronary risk factors: a multivariate approach. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 20: 455–462, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farmer ME, Harris T, Madans JH, Wallace RB, Cornoni-Huntley J, et al. Anthropometric indicators and hip fracture. The NHANES I epidemiologic follow-up study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 37: 9–16, 1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farnett L, Mulrow CD, Linn WP, Lucey CR, Toley MR. The J-curve phenomenon and the treatment of hypertension. Is there a point beyond which pressure reduction is dangerous? Journal of the American Medical Association 265: 489–495, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fiatarone MA, Evans WJ. Exercise in the oldest old. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation 5 (2): 63–77, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher NM, Pendergast DR, Calkins E. Muscle rehabilitation in impaired elderly nursing home residents. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 72: 181–185, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fleg JL, Lakatta EG. Role of muscle loss in the age-reduction in maximal oxygen consumption. Journal of Applied Physiology 65: 1147–1151, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Folsom AR, Caspersen CJ, Taylor HJ, Jacobs Jr DR, Luepker RV. Leisure time activity and its relationship to coronary risk factors in a population based sample. American Journal of Epidemiology 121 (4): 570–578, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch RE, Wyshak G, Albright TE, Albright NL, Schiff I. Lower prevalence of diabetes in female former college athletes compared with nonathletes. Diabetes 35: 1101–1105, 1986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frontera WR, Meredith CN, Q’Reilly KP, Evans BJ. Strength training and determinants of VO2max in older men. Journal of Applied Physiology 68 (1): 329–333, 1990

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frontera WR, Meredith CN, O’Reilly KP, Knuttgen HG, Evans WJ. Strength conditioning in older men: skeletal muscle hypertrophy and improved function. Journal of Applied Physiology 64 (3): 1038–1044, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerhardsson M, Floderus B, Norell SE. Physical activity and colon cancer risk. International Journal of Epidemiology 17: 743–746, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon DJ, Rifkind BM. Treating high blood cholesterol in the older patient. American Journal of Cardiology 63: 48H–52H, 1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon T, Castelli WP, Hjortland MC, Kannel WB, Dawber TR. High-density lipoprotein as a protective factor against coronary heart disease. American Journal of Medicine 62: 707–714, 1977

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hagberg JM. Effect of exercise and training on older men and women with essential hypertension. In Spiduso & Eckert (Eds) Physical activity and aging, pp. 186–193, Human Kinetics Books, Champaign, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagberg JM. Exercise, fitness and hypertension. In Bouchard et al. (Eds) Exercise, fitness and health: a consensus of current knowledge, pp. 455–466, Human Kinetics Books, Champaign, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagberg JM, Montain SJ, Martin WH. Blood pressure and hemodynamic responses after exercise in older hypertensives. Journal of Applied Physiology 63 (1): 270–276, 1987

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hagberg JM, Montain SJ, Martin WH, Ehsani AA. Effect of exercise training in 60- to 69-year-old persons with essential hypertension. American Journal of Cardiology 64: 348–353,1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hagberg JM, Seals DR. Exercise training and hypertension. Acta Medica Scandinavica (Suppl. 711): 131–136, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  • Hannum SM, Kasch FW. Acute postexercise blood pressure response of hypertensive and normotensive men. Scandinavian Journal of Sports Science 3: 11–15, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris SS, Caspersen CJ, DeFriese GH, Estes EH. Physical activity counseling for healthy adults as a primary preventive intervention in the clinical setting: report from the US Preventive Services Task Force. Journal of the American Medical Association 261: 3590–3598, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris TB, Makuc DM, Kleinman JC, Gillum RF, Curb JD, et al. Is the serum cholesterol-coronary heart disease relationship modified by activity level in older persons? Journal of the American Geriatric Society 39: 747–754, 1991

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartung GH, Foreyt JP, Mitchell RE, Vlasek I, Gotto Jr AM. Relation of diet to high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol in middle-aged marathon runners, joggers and inactive men. New England Journal of Medicine 302 (7): 357–361, 1980

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haskell WL, Taylor HL, Wood PD, Schrott H, Heiss G. Strenuous physical activity, treadmill exercise test performance and plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: the Lipid Research Clinics Program Prevalence Study. Circulation 62 (Suppl. IV): 53–61, 1980

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heath GW, Hagberg JM, Ehsani AA, Holloszy JO. A physiological comparison of young and old endurance athletes. Journal of Applied Physiology 51 (3): 634–640, 1981

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helmrich SP, Ragland DR, Leving RW, Paffenbarger Jr RS. Physical activity and reduced occurrence of non-insulindependent diabetes mellitus. New England Journal of Medicine 325: 147–152, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holloszy JO, Schultz J, Kusnierkiewicz J, Hagberg JM, Ehsani AA. Effects of exercise on glucose tolerance and insulin resistance: brief review and some preliminary results. Acta Medica Scandinavica (Suppl. 711): 55–65, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  • Hypertension Detection and Follow-up Program Cooperative Group. Five-year findings of the hypertension detection and follow-up program I: reduction in mortality of persons with high blood pressure, including mild hypertension. Journal of the American Medical Association 242: 2562–2571, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  • Jajich CL, Ostfeld AM, Freedman DH. Smoking and coronary heart disease mortality in the elderly. Journal of the American Medical Association 252: 2831–2834, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jennings G, Nelson L, Nestel P, Esler M, Korner P, et al. The effects of changes in physical activity on major cardiovascular risk factors, hemodynamics, sympathetic function, and glucose utilization in man: a controlled study of four levels of activity. Circulation 73 (1): 30–40, 1986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan GA, Seeman TE, Cohen RD, Knudsen LP, Geralnik J. Mortality among the elderly in the Alameda County Study: behavioral and demographic risk factors. American Journal of Public Health 77: 307–312, 1987

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan NM. Nonpharmacological control of high blood pressure. American Journal of Hypertension 2: 55s–59s, 1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kayman S, Bruvold W, Stern JS. Maintenance and relapse after weight loss in women: behavioral aspects. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 52: 800–807, 1990

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keys A. Overweight, obesity, coronary heart disease and mortality. Nutrition Reviews 38: 297–307, 1980

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King AC. Physical activity and health enhancement in older adults: current status and future prospects. Annals of Behavioral Medicine 13(3): 87–90, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  • King H, Taylor R, Zimmet P, Pargeter K, Raper LR, et al. Non-insulin-dependent diabetes in a newly independent Pacific nation: the Republic of Kiribati. Diabetes Care 7: 409–415, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kissebah AH, Peiris AN. Mechanisms associating body fat dis-tribution to glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus: window with a view. Acta Medica Scandinavica (Suppl. 723): 79–89, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  • Kissebah AH, Vydellingum N, Murray R, Evans DJ, Hartz AT, et al. Relations of body fat distribution to metabolic complications of obesity. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 54: 254–260, 1982

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krai J, Chrasek J, Adamirova J. The hypotensive effect of physical activity. In Raab W (Ed.) Prevention of ischemic heart disease: principles and practices, pp. 359–371, Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, 1966

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer FM, Jeffery RW, Forster JL, Kaye M. Long-term follow-up of behavioral treatment for obesity: patterns of weight regain among men and women. International Journal of Obesity 13: 123–136, 1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krotkiewski M, Bjorntorp P. Muscle tissue in obesity with different distribution of adipose tissue: effects of physical training. International Journal of Obesity 10: 331–334, 1986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krotkiewski M, Lonnroth P, Mandroukas K, Wroblewski Z, Rebuffe-Scrive M, et al. The effect of physical training on insulin secretion and effectiveness, and on glucose metabolism in obesity and type 2 (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia 28: 881–890, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lapidus L, Bengtsson C, Larsson B, Pennert K, Rybo E, et al. Distribution of adipose tissue and risk of cardiovascular disease and death: a 12-year follow-up of participants in the population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden. British Medical Journal 289: 1261–1263, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson B. Obesity, fat distribution and cardiovascular disease. International Journal of Obesity 15: 53–57, 1991

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson B, Svardsudd K, Wellin L, Wilhelmsen L, Bjorntorp L, et al. Abdominal adipose tissue distribution, obesity and risk of cardiovascular disease and death: 13 year follow-up of participants in the study of men born in 1913. British Medical Journal 288: 1401–1404, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson L, Gimby G, Karlsson J. Muscle strength and speed of movement in relation to age and muscle morphology. Journal of Applied Physiology 46 (3): 451–456, 1979

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lau E, Donnan S, Barker DJP, Cooper C. Physical activity and calcium intake in fracture of the proximal femur in Hong Kong. British Medical Journal 297: 1441–1443, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laws A, Reaven GM. Physical activity, glucose tolerance, and diabetes in older adults. Annals of Behavioral Medicine 13: 125–132, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee IM, PafTenbarger Jr RS, Hsieh C-C. Physical activity and risk of developing colorectal cancer among college alumni. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 83: 1324–1329, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leon AS. Effects of exercise conditioning on physiologic precursors of coronary heart disease. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation 11: 46–57, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  • Leon AS, Connett J, Jacobs DR, Rauramaa R. Leisure time physical activity levels and risk of coronary heart disease and death: the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. Journal of the American Medical Association 258: 2388–2395, 1987

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lipid Research Clinics Program. The Lipid Research Clinics Coronary Primary Prevention reduction in incidence of coronary heart disease to cholesterol lowering. Journal of the American Medical Association 251: 365–374, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  • Manson JE, Nathan DM, Krolewski AS, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC, et al. A prospective study of exercise and incidence of diabetes among US male physicians. Journal of the American Medical Association 268: 63–67, 1992

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manson JE, Rimm EB, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA, Willett WC, et al. Physical activity and incidence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in women. Lancet 338: 774–778, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marti B, Pekkanen J, Nissinen A, Ketola A, Kivela S, et al. Association of physical activity with coronary risk factors and physical ability: twenty-year follow-up of a cohort of Finnish men. Age and Ageing 18: 103–109, 1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Messerli FH, Christie B, DeCarvalho JGR, Aristimunogg GG, Suarez DH, et al. Obesity and essential hypertension: hemodynamics, intravascular volume, sodium excretion and plasma renin activity. Archives of Internal Medicine 141: 81–85, 1981

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Modan M, Karasik A, Halkin H, Fuchs Z, Lusky A, et al. The effect of past and concurrent body mass index on prevalence of glucose intolerance and type 2 (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes and on insulin response. Diabetologia 29: 82–89, 1986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montoye HJ, Metzner HL, Keller JB, Johnson BC, Epstein FH. Habitual physical activity and blood pressure. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 4: 175–181, 1972

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Multiple Risk Factor Trial Research Group. Risk factor changes and mortality results. Journal of the American Medical Association 248 (12): 1465–1477, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  • Najjar MF, Rowland M. Anthropometric reference data and prevalence of overweight, United States, 1976–1980, Vital and health statistics, Series II, no. 238, Department of Health and Human Services publication no. (PHS) 87–1688, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  • National Center for Health Statistics. Obese and overweight adults in the United States, Vital and health statistics, Series II, no. 230, Department of Health and Human Services publication no. (PHS) 83–1680, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  • National Center for Health Statistics. Total serum cholesterol levels of adults 20 to 74 years of age: United States, 1976–1980, Vital and health statistics, Serial II, no. 236, Department of Health and Human Services publication no. (PHS) 86–1686, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  • National Center for Health Statistics. Current estimates from the National Health Interview Survey: United States, 1986, Department of Health and Human Services publication no. (PHS) 87–1592, Hyattsville, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  • National Institutes of Health. Consensus development conference on diet and exercise in noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care 10: 639–644, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  • National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Panel. Health implications of obesity: National Institutes of Health consensus development conference statement. Annals of Internal Medicine 103: 1073–1077, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • PafTenbarger Jr RS, Wing AL, Hyde RT, Jung DL. Physical activity and incidence of hypertension in college alumni. American Journal of Epidemiology 117: 245–257, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  • Paganini-Hill A, Chao A, Ross RK, Henderson BE. Exercise and other factors in the prevention of hip fracture: the leisure world study. Epidemiology 2: 16–25, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pagaganini-Hill A, Ross RK, Gerkins VR, Hendersen BE, Arthur M, et al. Menopausal estrogen therapy and hip fractures. Annals of Internal Medicine 95: 28–31, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  • Pescatello LS, DiPietro L, Fargo AE, Caspersen CJ, Ostfeld AM, et al. The impact of physical activity and physical fitness on health outcomes in older adults. Abstract no. 123. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 23 (4): 521, 1991a

    Google Scholar 

  • Pescatello LS, Fargo AE, Leach Jr CN, Scherzer HH. Short-term effect of dynamic exercise on arterial blood pressure. Circulation 83: 1557–1561, 1991b

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poehlman ET, Horton ES. Regulation of energy expenditure in aging humans. Annual Review of Nutrition 10: 255–275, 1990

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pollock ML, Carroll JF, Graves JE, Leggett SH, Braith RW, et al. Injuries and adherence to walk/job and resistance training programs in the elderly. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 23 (10): 1194–1200, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pollock ML, Foster C, Knapp D, Rod JL, Schmidt DH. Effect of age and training on aerobic capacity and body composition of master athletes. Journal of Applied Physiology 62 (2): 725–731, 1987

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Powell KE, Thompson PD, Caspersen CJ, Kendrick JS. Physical activity and the incidence of coronary heart disease. Annual Review of Public Health 8: 253–287, 1987

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rauramaa R. Relationship of physical activity, glucose tolerance and weight management. Preventive Medicine 13: 37–46, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reaven PO, McPhillips JB, Barrett-Connor EL, Criqui MH. Leisure time exercise and lipid and lipoprotein levels in an older population. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 38: 847–854, 1990

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Report by the Management Committee. Treatment of mild hypertension in the elderly. Medical Journal of Australia 68: 398–402, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivera AH, Pels AE, Sady SP, Sady MA, Cullinane EM, et al. Physiological factors associated with the lower maximal consumption of master runners. Journal of Applied Physiology 66: 949–954, 1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers MA, Yamamoto MS, King DS, Hagberg JM, Ehsani AA, et al. Improvements in glucose tolerance after 1 wk of exercise in patients with mild NIDDM. Diabetes Care 11: 613–618, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roman O, Camuzzi AL, Villalon E, Kienner C. Physical training program in arterial hypertension: a long-term prospective follow-up. Cardiology 67: 230–243, 1981

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin SM, Sidney S, Black DM, Browner WS, Hulley SB, et al. High blood cholesterol in elderly men and the excess risk for coronary heart disease. Annals of Internal Medicine 113: 916–920, 1990

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saltin B, Lindgarde F, Houston M, Harlin R, Nygaard E, et al. Physical training and glucose tolerance in middle-aged men with chemical diabetes. Diabetes 28 (Suppl. 1): 30–32, 1979

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saris WHM. Long term results of the treatment of obesity. Journal of Drugs Research 8: 2075–2080, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz RS. Effects of exercise training on high density lipoproteins and apolipoprotein A-I in old and young men. Metabolism 37 (12): 1128–1133, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seals DR, Hagberg JM. The effect of exercise training on human hypertension: a review. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 16(3): 207–215, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seals DR, Hagberg JM, Allen WK, Hurley BF, Dalsky GP, et al. Glucose tolerance in young and older athletes and sedentary men. Journal of Applied Physiology 56: 1521–1525, 1984a

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seals DR, Hagberg JM, Hurley BF, Ehsani AA, Holloszy JO. Effects of endurance training on glucose tolerance and plasma lipid levels in older men and women. Journal of the American Medical Association 252: 645–649, 1984b

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seidell JC, Cigolini M, Deslypere JP, Charzewska J, Ellsinger B-M, et al. Body fat distribution in relation to physical activity and smoking habits in 38-year-old European men: the European fat distribution study. American Journal of Epidemiology 133: 257–265, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shephard RJ. Can we identify those for whom exercise is hazardous? Sports Medicine 1: 75–86, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel WC, Blumenthal JA. The role of exercise in the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Annals of Behavioral Medicine 13(1): 23–30, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  • Slattery ML, Jacobs DR. The interrelationship of physical activity, physical fitness and body measurement. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 19: 564–569, 1987

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stamler J, Wentworth D, Neaton JD. Is the relationship between serum cholesterol and risk of premature death from coronary heart disease continuous and graded? Journal of the American Medical Association 256 (20): 2823–2828, 1986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stern MP, Haffner SM. Body fat distribution and hyperinsulinemia as risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Arteriosclerosis 6: 123–130, 1986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Subcommittee on Nonpharmacological Therapy. Nonpharma-cological approaches to the control of high blood pressure: final report of the subcommittee on nonpharmacological therapy of the 1984 Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Hypertension 8: 444–467, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  • Systolic Hypertension Cooperative Research Group. Prevention of stroke by antihypertensive drug treatment in older persons with isolated systolic hypertension: final results of the systolic hypertension in the elderly program (SHEP). Journal of the American Medical Association 265: 3255–3264, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor R, Ram P, Zimmett P, Raper LR, Ringrose H. Physical activity and prevalence of diabetes in Melanesian and Indian men in Fiji. Diabetologia 27: 578–582, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tipton CM. Exercise, training and hypertension. Exercise and Sport Science Reviews 12: 245–306, 1984

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tipton CM. Exercise, training and hypertension. Exercise and Sport Science Reviews 19: 447–505, 1991

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tjoa HI, Kaplan NM. Treatment of hypertension in the elderly. Journal of the American Medical Association 264: 1015–1018, 1990

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tran ZV, Brammell HL. Effects of exercise training on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in post-MI patients: a meta-analysis. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation 9: 250–255, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  • Tran ZV, Weltman A. Differential effects of exercise on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels seen with changes in body weight: a meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Association 254: 919–924, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tremblay A, Despres JP, Leblanc C, Craig CL, Ferris B, et al. Effect of the intensity of physical activity on body fatness and fat distribution. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 51: 153–157, 1990

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tzankoff SP, Norris AJ. Effect of muscle mass decrease on agerelated BMR changes. Journal of Applied Physiology 43: 1001–1006, 1977

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tzankoff SP, Norris AJ. Longitudinal changes in basal metabolism in man. Journal of Applied Physiology 45: 536–539, 1978

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US Bureau of the Census. Current population reports, Series P-25, no. 952, Projections of the population of the United States, by age, sex and race: 1983–2080, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  • US Department of Health and Human Services. Executive summary: aging and health promotion: market research for public education. US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  • Vague J. The degree of masculine differentiation of obesities: a factor determining predisposition to diabetes, atherosclerosis, gout, and uric calculus disease. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 4: 20–34, 1956

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Veterans Administration Cooperative Study Group on Antihypertensive Agents: effects of treatment on morbidity in hypertension III. Influence of age, diastolic pressure and prior cardiovascular disease: further analysis of side effects. Circulation 45: 991–1004, 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Wadden TA, Stunkard AJ, Brownell KD. Very low calorie diets: their efficacy, safety and future. Annals of Internal Medicine 99: 675–684, 1983

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang KT, Ho LT, Tang KT, Wang LM, Chen YD, et al. Effect of habitual physical activity on age-related glucose intolerance. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 37: 203–209, 1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wickham CAC, Walsh K, Cooper C, Barker DJ, Margetts BM, et al. Dietary calcium, physical activity and risk of hip fracture: a prospective study. British Medical Journal 299: 889–892, 1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox RG, Bennett T, Brown AM, MacDonald IA. Is exercise good for high blood pressure? British Medical Journal 235: 767–769, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  • Working Group on Hypertension in the Elderly. Statement on hypertension in the elderly. Journal of the American Medical Association 256: 70–74, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  • Yano K, Reed DM, McGee DL. Ten-year incidence of coronary heart disease in the Honolulu Heart Program. American Journal of Epidemiology 118: 653–666, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmet P, Faaiuso S, Ainuu J, Whitehouse S, Milne B, et al. The prevalence of diabetes in the rural and urban Polynesian population of Western Samoa. Diabetes 1981: 45–51, 1981

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pescatello, L.S., DiPietro, L. Physical Activity in Older Adults. Sports Medicine 15, 353–364 (1993). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199315060-00001

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199315060-00001

Keywords

Navigation