A
carefully structured, moderate physical activity program helped vulnerable
older people maintain their mobility. The new study shows that many frail older
people can reap rewards from regular physical activity.
As you
get older, reduced mobility can raise the risk for disease, disability, and even
death. Regular physical activity offers known health benefits to a variety of
people. But scientists hadn’t identified a specific intervention to prevent
mobility disability.
An
NIH-funded study enrolled more than 1,600 adults, ages 70 to 89, who were at
risk for disability. They were randomly assigned to either a moderate-intensity
physical activity program or a health education program focused on successful
aging.
The
physical activity group gradually worked up to 150 minutes of weekly activity,
including brisk walking, strength and balance training, and flexibility
exercises. Sessions took place at a clinic twice a week and at home 3 or 4
times a week. The comparison group had 26 weekly health education workshops,
later followed by monthly meetings.
Over
the course of the study—an average of 2.6 years—the physical activity program
significantly reduced the risk of major mobility disability by 18% compared to
the education group. Physical activity participants were better able to
maintain their ability to walk without assistance for about a quarter of a
mile.
“We are
gratified by these findings,” says Dr. Richard J. Hodes, director of NIH’s
National Institute on Aging (NIA). “Participating in a specific program of
aerobic, resistance, balance, and flexibility training activities can have
substantial positive benefits for reducing risk of mobility disability.”
Based
on earlier research, NIA launched Go4Life,
a national exercise and physical activity campaign for healthy older adults.
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