Is generic physical activity or specific exercise associated with motor abilities?

Purpose: Evidence of the effect of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) modes on the motor abilities of a mature population is scarce. The purpose of this study was to compare the motor abilities of physically active and inactive men and women and to examine the associations of different exercise modes and former and recent LTPA (R-LTPA) with motor ability and various physical tests.

Methods: The LTPA of the participants (men n = 69, women n = 79; aged 41-47 yr) was ascertained by a modified Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire, including questions on the frequency, duration, and intensity of R-LTPA and former LTPA and on exercise modes.

Does physical activity affect the predictive value of health-related fitness tests on walking difficulty?

Background: Low levels of physical activity (PA) and poor fitness tend to predict a decline in mobility. The current study investigated whether PA modifies the predictive value of health-related fitness (HRF) tests on difficulty in walking 2 km (WD).

Methods: PA was assessed by self-reported questionnaires in 1990 and 1996.

Health-related fitness tests as predictors of difficulties in long-distance walking among high-functioning older adults.

Background And Aims: Health-related fitness (HRF) tests are valid predictors of self-reported mobility difficulties among high-functioning older adults. The aim of the present study was to identify optimal cut-off values for HRF tests predicting self-reported difficulties in walking 2 km (WD).

Methods: Subjects were 55- to 69-year-old men and women who were free of WD at baseline.

Evaluation of required motor abilities in commonly practiced exercise modes and potential training effects among adults.

Background: There is a lack of knowledge of the motor abilities required in different exercise modes which are needed when counseling sedentary middle-aged people to start a physically active lifestyle.

Methods: Nominal group technique was used to establish the consensus statement concerning motor abilities and physical fitness in 31 exercise modes.

Results: Walking, running, jogging, and calisthenics were regarded as the most suitable exercise modes for most people with no specific requirements.

From innovation to practice: initiation, implementation and evaluation of a physician-based physical activity promotion programme in Finland.

In 2001, a collaborative Physical Activity Prescription Programme (PAPP) was started in Finland to increase physical activity (PA) counselling among physicians, especially in primary care. This article describes the initiation, implementation and evaluation of PAPP. Five actions were implemented to reach the programme goal: (i) developing a counselling approach for physicians; (ii) providing easy and open access to counselling material; (iii) facilitating physicians' uptake and adoption of the counselling approach; (iv) disseminating information about the counselling approach to physicians, health and exercise professionals and decision-makers and (v) raising financial resources to cover programme expenses.

Self-reported and test-based mobility limitations in a representative sample of Finns aged 30+.

Aims: The object of the present study was to acquire a comprehensive and accurate picture of mobility limitations in the Finnish adult population.

Methods: A nationally representative sample of 8,028 persons aged 30+ with high participation was interviewed and examined in the Health 2000 Survey conducted in 2000-01. Mobility limitations were measured by self-reports and performance tests.

Effect of brisk walking in 1 or 2 daily bouts and moderate resistance training on lower-extremity muscle strength, balance, and walking performance in women who recently went through menopause: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background And Purpose: Menopause may induce a phase of rapid decreases in bone mineral density, aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and balance, especially in sedentary women. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects and feasibility of an exercise program of 1 or 2 bouts of walking and resistance training on lower-extremity muscle strength (the force-generating capacity of muscle), balance, and walking performance in women who recently went through menopause.

Subjects And Methods: The subjects were 134 women who recently went through menopause.

Predictive value of health-related fitness tests for self-reported mobility difficulties among high-functioning elderly men and women.

Background And Aims: The functional independence of elderly populations deteriorates with age. Several tests of physical performance have been developed for screening elderly persons who are at risk of losing their functional independence. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether several components of health-related fitness (HRF) are valid in predicting the occurrence of self-reported mobility difficulties (MD) among high-functioning older adults.

Associations of leisure-time physical activity with mobility difficulties among middle-aged and older adults.

The authors investigated the associations of the amount, frequency and intensity, and type of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) with the risk of self-reported difficulty in walking (WD) and stair climbing (SCD) over 16 years in a population-based cohort age 40-64 years at the onset of the study. Their results indicated that the risk for SCD was highest among men and women with a low amount of weekly LTPA. The risk was high also among women with weekly light LTPA compared with women with weekly vigorous LTPA.

Offering physical activity counselling in occupational health care -- does it reach the target group?

Background: Employees participating in worksite physical activity (PA) interventions are mostly the physically active and healthy ones. PA counselling may therefore have an important role in reaching 'at-risk' employees.

Aims: To examine (i) how PA counselling offered by occupational health care (OHC) providers reaches the target group of physically inactive employees who have intentions to increase PA and (ii) the relations of 12 selected variables to respondents' willingness to participate in PA counselling.

A randomized intervention of physical activity promotion and patient self-monitoring in primary health care.

Objectives: To examine the effectiveness of prescription-based counseling and self-monitoring in the promotion of physical activity in primary health care.

Methods: The study was conducted in Finland during 2003-2004. Physicians from 24 health care units (N = 67) were randomized to a prescription or a non-prescription group.

Characteristics of leisure time physical activity associated with risk of decline in perceived health--a 10-year follow-up of middle-aged and elderly men and women.

Background: Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) has been found to prevent several diseases, but little is known about its protective effect against decline in perceived health. The purpose of the present study is to analyze the protective effect of LTPA against the risk of decline in perceived health in a cohort of 19- to 63-year-old Finnish men (n = 1205) and women (n = 1148) with good perceived health.

Methods: The incidence rate of decline in perceived health was monitored by self-administered questionnaire data from March 1980 through March 1985 through December 1990.

The effectiveness of physical activity counseling in a work-site setting. A randomized, controlled trial.

Voluntary employees (N = 155) from nine different companies were screened by questionnaire for the study. They were randomized into three study groups: counseling (n = 52), counseling + fitness testing (n = 51) and control group (n = 52). The counseling was based on a goal-oriented conversation session for each participant and three follow-up appointments with an occupational nurse over a period of 1 year.

Exercise for health for early postmenopausal women: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

Women who pass menopause face many changes that may lead to loss of health-related fitness (HRF), especially if sedentary. Many exercise recommendations are also relevant for early postmenopausal women; however, these may not meet their specific needs because the recommendations are based mainly on studies on men. We conducted a systematic review for randomised, controlled exercise trials on postmenopausal women (aged 50 to 65 years) on components of HRF.

Effects of preventive group education on the resistance of LDL against oxidation and risk factors for coronary heart disease in bypass surgery patients.

Background: Comprehensive preventive education for heart patients is effective in reducing cardiac events. However, very demanding counselling protocols cannot easily be implemented as an integral part of clinical practice in hospitals.

Aim: To evaluate whether recurrent preventive group education for coronary artery bypass grafting patients affects the resistance of LDL against oxidation and the classical risk factors for coronary heart disease.

A health-related fitness and functional performance test battery for middle-aged and older adults: feasibility and health-related content validity.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and health-related content validity of 6 health-related fitness (HRF) and 3 functional performance (FP) tests among middle-aged and older persons.

Design: Cross-sectional methodologic study.

Setting: Field laboratories in 3 communities of northeast Finland.