Objectively assessed physical activity and subsequent health service use of UK adults aged 70 and over: a four to five year follow up study.

Objectives: To examine the associations between volume and intensity of older peoples' physical activity, with their subsequent health service usage over the following four to five years.

Study Design: A prospective cohort design using baseline participant characteristics, objectively assessed physical activity and lower limb function provided by Project OPAL (Older People and Active Living). OPAL-PLUS provided data on numbers of primary care consultations, prescriptions, unplanned hospital admissions, and secondary care referrals, extracted from medical records for up to five years following the baseline OPAL data collection.

Objectively measured sedentary time and its association with physical function in older adults.

The relationship of objectively measured sedentary time (ST), frequency of breaks in ST, and lower extremity function (LEF) was investigated in a diverse sample aged ≥ 70 years (n = 217). Physical activity (PA) was assessed by accelerometry deriving moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) minutes per registered hour (MVPA min · hr(-1)), registered ST (ST min · hr(-1)), and breaks in ST min · hr(-1) (breaks · hr(-1)). LEF was assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery.

Associations of objectively measured physical activity with lower limb function in older men and women: findings from the Older People and Active Living (OPAL) study.

Associations of objectively measured physical activity (PA) with objectively measured lower limb function in adults age 70 and older were studied. Lower limb function was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and PA by an accelerometer providing mean daily counts per minute (CPM), mean daily steps and minutes of moderate or vigorous PA (MVPA) per day. A minority (32 [13%]) scored low (≤6 out of a maximum of 12) on the SPPB, but only 3 (1%) achieved recommended PA levels.

Bridging the gap in health inequalities with the help of health trainers: a realistic task in hostile environments? A short report for debate.

Background: From a public health theoretical perspective, there is acknowledgement that synchronized policies, which address both individual and area level risks to health, are important to reduce inequalities and improve health. Despite this, much research focuses on just one of these two approaches (often pitting them against each other) and much practice tends to focus on individual level interventions. Efforts to address health inequalities between rich and poor in the UK continue to focus on individual-based interventions, with the most recent initiative being health trainers.

Improving health through neighbourhood environmental change: are we speaking the same language? A qualitative study of views of different stakeholders.

Objective: To explore the perspectives of four groups of stakeholders to proposed improvements to the built environment-a neighbourhood renewal consisting of a home zone development and an extension of the National Cycle Network (NCN). Design Qualitative focus group study. Setting A deprived neighbourhood.