Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sport, Physical Activity, and Aging: Are We on the Right Track?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sport and Physical Activity across the Lifespan

Abstract

This chapter provides a critical overview of the applicability and effectiveness of ‘Sport for Life’ and ‘Sport for All’ approaches in achieving ‘success’ during older adulthood. Older adulthood, as suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO), commonly coincides with the eligibility to collect pension payments, and thus begins between 60 and 65 years of age (WHO, 2002a). As many parts of the world face a demographic shift toward this older population base, a critical examination of strategies to maintain health, function, and well-being into later life is warranted. Positioned within a framework of successful aging, this chapter discusses the implications of holding the individual accountable for personal health and functioning, while aligning this notion with the expectation of all individuals to maintain physically active lives through sport participation. As an example of older adults participating in sport we highlight the World Masters Games and debate the use of competitive Masters athletes to exemplify the aging ideal as well as serve as role models for the senior population. We consider barriers to sport and physical activity participation and provide a snapshot of engagement profiles throughout older adulthood. Conclusions are drawn regarding ‘Sport for Life’ and ‘Sport for All’ approaches when encouraging older adults to age successfully, and contrasts are made to the broader framework of ‘active aging’.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 100.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agahi, N., Ahacic, K., & Parker, M. G. (2006). Continuity of leisure participation from middle age to older age. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 61B(6), S340–S346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrew, M. K. (2005). Social capital, health, and care home residence among older adults: A secondary analysis of the health survey for England 2000. European Journal of Ageing, 2(2), 137–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andreyeva, T., & Sturm, R. (2006). Physical activity and changes in health care costs in late middle age. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 3, S6–S19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, J., Meisner, B. A., Logan, A. J., Kungl, A., & Weir, P. (2009). Physical activity and successful aging in Canadian older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 17(2), 223–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baltes, P. B., & Baltes, M. M. (1990). Psychological perspectives on successful aging: The model of selective optimization with compensation. In P. B. Baltes & M. M. Baltes (Eds.), Successful aging: Perspectives from the behavioral sciences (pp. 1–34). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bassuk, S. S., Glass, T. A., & Berkman, L. F. (1999). Social disengagement and incident cognitive decline in community-dwelling elderly persons. Annals of Internal Medicine, 131(3), 165–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bath, P. A., & Deeg, D. (2005). Social engagement and health outcomes among older people: Introduction to a special section. European Journal of Ageing, 2(1), 24–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bath, P. A., & Gardiner, A. (2005). Social engagement and health and social care use and medication use among older people. European Journal of Ageing, 2(1), 56–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, K. M. (2002). Low level social engagement as a precursor of mortality among people in later life. Age and Ageing, 31(3), 165–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biggs, S. (2014). Precarious ageing versus the policy of indifference: International trends and the G20. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 33(4), 226–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowling, A. (2006). Lay perceptions of successful ageing: Findings from a national survey of middle aged and older adults in Britain. European Journal of Ageing, 3(3), 123–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowling, A. (2007). Aspirations for older age in the 21st century: What is successful aging? International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 64(3), 263–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowling, A., & Dieppe, P. (2005). What is successful aging and who should define it? British Medical Journal, 331(7531), 1548–1551.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canadian Sport for Life [CS4L]. (2011). Canadian Sport for Life. Retrieved November 2014, from http://www.canadiansportforlife.ca

  • Carlson, S. A., Fulton, J. E., Pratt, M., Yang, Z., & Adams, E. K. (2015). Inadequate physical activity and health care expenditures in the United States. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 57, 315–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, K. (2014). Engagement of seniors: ‘How’ and ‘why’ engagement profiles change over time. Masters thesis. Retrieved from Electronic Theses and Dissertations. (Paper 5043).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chilvers, R., Corr, S., & Singlehurst, H. (2010). Investigation into the occupational lives of healthy older people through their use of time. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 57(1), 24–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, A., & Warren, L. (2007). Hopes, fears and expectations about the future: What do older people’s stories tell us about active ageing? Ageing & Society, 27(4), 465–488.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen-Mansfield, J., Marx, M. S., & Guralnik, J. M. (2003). Motivators and barriers to exercise in an older community-dwelling population. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 11, 242–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crombie, I. K., Irvine, L., Williams, B., McGuinnis, A. R., Slane, P. W., Alder, E. M., et al. (2004). Why older people do not participate in leisure time physical activity: A survey of activity levels, beliefs, and deterrents. Age and Ageing, 33(3), 287–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dillaway, H. E., & Byrnes, M. (2009). Reconsidering successful aging: A call for renewed and expanded academic critiques and conceptualizations. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 28(6), 702–722.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dionigi, R. A. (2010a). Older sportswomen: Personal and cultural meanings of resistance and conformity. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 5, 395–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dionigi, R. A. (2010b). Older athletes: Resisting and reinforcing discourses of sport and aging. In S. Spickard Prettyman & B. Lampman (Eds.), Learning culture through sports: Perspectives on society and organized sports (2nd ed., pp. 260–278). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dionigi, R. A. (2016). The competitive older athlete: A review of the pscyhosocial and sociological issues. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 32, 55–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dionigi, R. A., Baker, J., & Horton, S. (2011a). Older athletes’ perceived benefits of competition. International Journal of Sport and Society, 2(2), 17–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dionigi, R. A., Gard, M., Horton, S., Weir, P., & Baker, J. (2014). Sport as leisure for older adults: Critical reflections and recommendations. Paper presented at the 14th Canadian Congress on Leisure Research: Our New Leisure Society, Halifax Nova Scotia, May 21–23, 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dionigi, R. A., & Horton, S. (2012). The influence of leisure on discourses of aging. In H. Gibson & J. Singleton (Eds.), Leisure and aging: Theory and practice (pp. 27–39). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dionigi, R. A., Horton, S., & Baker, J. (2010). Seniors in sport: The experiences and practices of older world masters games competitors. International Journal of Sport and Society, 1, 55–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dionigi, R. A., Horton, S., & Baker, J. (2011b). Negotiations of the aging process: Older adults’ stories of sports participation. Sport, Education and Society, 1–18. doi:10.1080/13573322.2011.589832.

  • Dionigi, R. A., Horton, S., & Bellamy, J. (2011c). Meanings of aging among older Canadian women of varying activity levels. Leisure Sciences, 33, 402–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dionigi, R. A., & O’Flynn, G. (2007). Performance discourses and old age: What does it mean to be an older athlete? Sociology of Sport Journal, 24, 359–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dumas, A., & Laberge, S. (2005). Social class and ageing bodies: Understanding physical activity in later life. Social Theory & Health, 3(3), 183–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Everard, K. M., Lach, H. W., Fisher, E. B., & Baum, M. C. (2000). Relationship of activity and social support to the functional health of older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 55B(4), S208–S212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, B. J., & Specht, D. K. (1999). Successful aging and creativity in later life. Journal of Aging Studies, 13(4), 457–472.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisk, A. D., Meyer, B., Rogers, W. A., & Walker, N. (1998). Functional limitations to daily living tasks in the aged: A focus group analysis. Human Factors, 40(1), 111–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster, L., & Walker, A. (2015). Active and successful aging: A European policy perspective. The Geronotologist, 55(1), 83–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fricke, J., & Unsworth, C. (2001). Time use and importance of instrumental activities of daily living. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 48(3), 118–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gard, M., & Dionigi, R. A. (2016). The world turned upside down: Sport, policy and ageing. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 8(4), 737–744.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gard, M., Dionigi, R. A., Horton, S., Baker, J., Weir, P., & Dionigi, C. (2017). The normalisation of sport for older people? Annals of Leisure Research, 20(3), 253–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gauthier, A. H., & Smeeding, T. M. (2003). Time use at older ages. Research on Aging, 25(3), 247–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gayman, A., Fraser-Thomas, J., Dionigi, R. A., Horton, S., & Baker, J. (2017). Is sport good for older adults? A systematic review of psychosocial outomces of older adults’ sport participation. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 10, 164–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geard, D., Reaburn, P., Rebar, A., & Dionigi, R. A. (2017). Masters athletes: Exemplars of successful aging? Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 25(3), 490–500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilleard, C., & Higgs, P. (2000). Cultures of ageing: Self, citizen and the body. Harlow, UK: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilleard, C., & Higgs, P. (2002). The third age: Class, cohort or generation? Ageing and Society, 22(3), 369–382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glass, T. A., Mendes de Leon, C. F., Bassuk, S. S., & Berkman, L. F. (2006). Social engagement and depressive symptoms in late life: Longitudinal findings. Journal of Aging and Health, 18(4), 604–628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, B. (2001). ‘You’re never too old’: Beliefs about physical activity and playing sport in later life. Ageing & Society, 21, 777–798.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, B. (2004). They’re not doing bad for their age: Ageing, leisure, and active living. Waikato Journal of Education, 10, 33–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant, B. C., & Kluge, M. A. (2012). Leisure and physical well-being. In H. J. Gibson & J. F. Singleton (Eds.), Leisure and aging: Theory and practice (pp. 129–141). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, S. A., Wiswell, R. A., & Marcell, T. J. (2003). Exercise and the master athlete: A model of successful aging? Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 58A, 1009–1011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herzog, A. R., Franks, M. M., Markus, H. R., & Holmberg, D. (1998). Activities and well-being in older age: Effects of self-concept and educational attainment. Psychology and Aging, 13(2), 179–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilton, J. M., Gonzalez, C. A., Saleh, M., Maitoza, R., & Anngela-Cole, L. (2012). Perceptions of successful aging among older Latinos, in cross-cultural context. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 27(3), 183–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinterlong, J. E., Morrow-Howell, N., & Rozario, P. A. (2007). Productive engagement and late life physical and mental health: Findings from a nationally representative panel study. Research on Aging, 29(4), 348–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horton, S., Baker, J., Côté, J., & Deakin, J. (2008). Understanding seniors’ perceptions and stereotypes of aging. Educational Gerontology, 34, 997–1017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horton, S., Dionigi, R. A., & Bellamy, J. (2013). Canadian women aged 75 and over: Attitudes towards health related role models and female Masters athletes. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social and Community Studies, 7(3), 33–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hultsch, D. F., Hertzog, C., Small, B. J., & Dixon, R. A. (1999). Use it or lose it: Engaged lifestyle as a buffer of cognitive decline in aging? Psychology and Aging, 14(2), 245–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Olympic Committee [IOC]. (2014). Sport for all: Sport belongs to everyone. Retrieved November 2014, from http://www.olympic.org

  • Katz, S. (2013). Active and successful aging. Lifestyle as a gerontological idea. The Gerontologist, 44(1), 33–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, S., & Calasanti, T. (2015). Critical perspectives on successful aging: Does it “appeal more than it illuminates”? The Gerontologist, 55(1), 26–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katzmarzyk, P. T., Gledhill, N., & Shephard, R. J. (2000). The economic burden of physical inactivity in Canada. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 163(11), 1435–1440.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleiber, D. A., Hutchinson, S. L., & Williams, R. (2002). Leisure as a resource in transcending negative life events: Self-protection, self-restoration, and personal transformation. Leisure Sciences, 24(2), 219–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knight, T., & Ricciardelli, L. A. (2003). Successful aging: Perceptions of adults aged between 70 and 101 years. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 56(3), 223–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, L. Y. K., & Fan, R. Y. K. (2008). An exploratory study on the perception of healthy ageing among Chinese adults in Hong Kong. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17(10), 1392–1394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lennartsson, C., & Silverstein, M. (2001). Does engagement with life enhance survival of elderly people in Sweden? The role of social and leisure activities. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 56B(6), S335–S342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liffiton, J., Horton, S., Baker, J., & Weir, P. (2012). Successful aging: Howe does physical activity influence engagement with life? European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, 9(2), 103–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LIKES Research Center for Sport and Health Sciences. (2010). Report to the international olympic committee sport for all commission on the content analysis of sport for all congress declarations (1994–2008). Jyväskylä, Finland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockwood, P., Chasteen, A., & Wong, C. (2005). Age and regulatory focus determine preferences for health-related role models. Psychology and Aging, 20, 376–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lockwood, P., & Kunda, Z. (1997). Superstars and me: Predicting the impact of role models on the self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 91–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maier, H., & Klumb, P. L. (2005). Social participation and survival at older ages: Is the effect driven by activity content or context? European Journal of Ageing, 2(1), 31–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, D. J., & Gillen, L. L. (2013). Revisiting gerontology’s scrapbook: From Metchnikoff to the spectrum model of aging. The Gerontologist, 54(1), 51–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathews, A. E., Laditka, S. B., Laditka, J. N., Wilcox, S., Corwin, S. J., Liu, R., et al. (2010). Older adults’ perceived physical activity enablers and barriers: A multicultural perspective. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 18, 119–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsubayashi, K., & Okumiya, K. (2006). Older adults’ views of “successful aging”: Comparison of older Japanese and Americans. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 54(1), 184–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin, D., Vagenas, D., Pachana, N. A., Begum, N., & Dobson, A. (2010). Gender differences in social network size and satisfaction in adults in their 70s. Journal of Health Psychology, 15(5), 671–679.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meisner, B., Dogra, S., Logan, J., Baker, J., & Weir, P. (2010). Do or decline? Comparing the effects of physical inactivity on biopsychological components of successful aging. Journal of Health Psychology, 15, 688–696.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendes, F. (2013). Active ageing: A right or a duty? Health Sociology Review, 22(2), 174–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendes de Leon, C. F. (2005). Social engagement and successful aging. European Journal of Ageing, 2(1), 64–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendes de Leon, C. F., Glass, T. A., & Berkman, L. F. (2003). Social engagement and disability in a community population of older adults: The New Haven EPESE. American Journal of Epidemiology, 157(7), 633–642.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menec, V. H. (2003). The relation between everyday activities and successful aging: A 6-year longitudinal study. The Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 58B(2), S74–S82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menec, V. H., & Chipperfield, J. G. (1997). Remaining active in later life: The role of locus of control in seniors’ leisure activity participation, health, and life satisfaction. Journal of Aging and Health, 9(1), 105–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montross, L. P., Depp, C., Daly, J., Reichstadt, J., Golshan, S., Moore, D., et al. (2006). Correlates of self-rated successful aging among community-dwelling older adults. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 14(1), 43–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, M., & Crummett, A. (2010). ‘I don’t think they knew we could do these sorts of things’: Social representations of community and participation in community arts by older people. Journal of Health Psychology, 15(5), 777–785.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien Cousins, S. (2000). ‘My heart couldn’t take it’: Older women’s beliefs about exercise benefits and risks. Journals of Gerontology: Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 55B(5), 283–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oman, D., Thoresen, C. E., & McMahon, K. (1999). Volunteerism and mortality among the community-dwelling elderly. Journal of Health Psychology, 4(3), 301–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ory, M., Kinney Hoffman, M., Hawkins, M., Sanner, B., & Mockenhaupt, R. (2003). Challenging aging stereotypes: Strategies for creating a more active society. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 25, 164–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Payne, G. V., & Isaacs, L. D. (2012). Human motor development: A lifespan approach (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Ryerson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phelan, E. A., & Larson, E. B. (2002). “Successful aging”—Where next? Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 50(7), 1306–1306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phoenix, C., & Grant, B. (2009). Expanding the agenda for research on the physically active aging body. Journal of Aging & Physical Activity, 17, 362–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pike, E. (2011). The active aging agenda, old folk devils and a new moral panic. Sociology of Sport Journal, 28(2), 209–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reichstadt, J., Sengupta, G., Depp, C. A., Palinkas, L. A., & Jeste, D. V. (2010). Older adults’ perspectives on successful aging: Qualitative interviews. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(7), 567–775.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1987). Human aging: Usual and successful. Science, 237(4811), 143–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful aging. The Gerontologist, 37(4), 433–440.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Said, E. (1978). Orientalism: Western conceptions of the orient. New York: Pantheon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sallis, J. F., Bauman, A., & Pratt, M. (1998). Environmental and policy interventions to promote physical activity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 15(4), 379–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schooler, C., & Mulatu, M. S. (2001). The reciprocal effects of leisure time activities and intellectual functioning in older people: A longitudinal analysis. Psychology and Aging, 16(3), 466–482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schutzer, K. A., & Graves, B. S. (2004). Barriers and motivations to exercise in older adults. Preventive Medicine, 39, 1056–1061.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shephard, R. J. (2010). The future of Masters games: Implications for policy and research. In J. Baker, S. Horton, & P. Weir (Eds.), The Masters athlete: Understanding the role of exercise in optimizing aging (pp. 186–193). London, UK: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K., Carr, K., Wiseman, A., Calhoun, K., McNevin, N., & Weir, P. (2012). Barriers are not the limiting factor to participation in physical activity in Canadian seniors. Journal of Aging Research, 2012, 1–8 Article ID: 890679.

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistics Canada. (2013). Sport participation 2010. Canadian Heritage, Sports Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strain, L. A., Grabusic, C. C., Searle, M. S., & Dunn, N. J. (2002). Continuing and ceasing leisure activity in later life: A longitudinal study. The Gerontologist, 42(2), 217–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strawbridge, W. J., Wallhagen, M. I., & Cohen, R. D. (2002). Successful aging and well-being: Self-rated compared to Rowe and Kahn. The Gerontologist, 42(6), 727–733.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tate, R. B., Lah, L., & Cuddy, T. E. (2003). Definition of successful aging by elderly Canadian males: The Manitoba follow-up study. The Gerontologist, 43(5), 735–744.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thoits, P. A., & Hewitt, L. N. (2001). Volunteer work and well-being. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, 42(2), 115–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vertinsky, P. (1995). Stereotypes of aging women and exercise: A historical perspective. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 3, 223–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Faber, M., Bootsma-van der Wiel, A., van Exel, E., Gussekloo, J., Lagaay, A. M., van Dongen, E., et al. (2001). Successful aging in the oldest old: Who can be characterized as successfully aged? Archives of Internal Medicine, 161(22), 2694–2700.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wahrendorf, M., van dem Knesebeck, O., & Siegrist, J. (2006). Social productivity and well-being of older people: Baseline results from the SHARE study. European Journal of Ageing, 3(2), 67–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, H., Karp, A., Winblad, B., & Fratiglioni, L. (2002). Late-life engagement in social and leisure activities is associated with a decreased risk of dementia: A longitudinal study from the Kungsholmen project. American Journal of Epidemiology, 155(2), 1081–1087.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warburton, J., & Peel, N. M. (2008). Volunteering as a productive ageing activity: The association with fall-related hip fracture in later life. European Journal of Ageing, 5(2), 129–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization [WHO]. (2002a). Definition of an older or elderly person. Retrieved November 2014, from http://www.who.int/entity/healthinfo/survey/ageingdefnolder/en/

  • World Health Organization [WHO]. (2002b). Active aging: A policy framework. Geneva, Switzerland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, Y., Frick, K. D., & Phelan, E. A. (2009). Can successful aging and chronic illness coexist in the same individual? A multidimensional concept of successful aging. Journal of the American Medical Director Association, 10(2), 87–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yum, T. Y., & Lightfoot, E. (2005). The effects of volunteering on the physical and mental health of older people. Research on Aging, 27(1), 31–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Support for the writing of this chapter was provided through a research grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC Grant 435-2013-0647).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada

    Kelly Carr, Kristy Smith, Patricia Weir & Sean Horton

Authors
  1. Kelly Carr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kristy Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Patricia Weir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sean Horton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia

    Rylee A. Dionigi

  2. University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Michael Gard

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Carr, K., Smith, K., Weir, P., Horton, S. (2018). Sport, Physical Activity, and Aging: Are We on the Right Track?. In: Dionigi, R., Gard, M. (eds) Sport and Physical Activity across the Lifespan. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-48562-5_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-48562-5_17

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-48561-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-48562-5

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation