Maintaining physical activity among older adults: six-month outcomes of the Keep Active Minnesota randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluate the 6-month efficacy of Keep Active Minnesota, a phone- and mail-based physical activity maintenance intervention designed for use with adults age 50 to 70 years who have increased their physical activity within the past year.


METHODS
Participants (N=1049) recruited in 2004 and 2005 from one large managed-care organization in Minnesota were randomly assigned to either treatment (N=523) or usual care (N=526) with physical activity assessed using the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors questionnaire, and expressed as kcal/week expenditures.


RESULTS
Total physical activity at baseline was similar for treatment and usual care participants (p<0.44) as was moderate/vigorous physical activity (p<0.21). Maintenance of physical activity was higher among treatment participants whose mean 6-month change in total kcal/week energy expenditure was -91, compared to -683 for usual care participants (p<0.002). Mean 6-month change in kcal/week expenditure in moderate or vigorous activities was -49 for treatment participants, compared to -612 for usual care participants (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This phone- and mail-based physical activity maintenance intervention is efficacious at maintaining physical activity at 6 months.
Martinson
Brian C
BC
HealthPartners Research Foundation, Mail Stop: 21111R, P.O. Box 1524, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1524, USA. Brian.C.Martinson@HealthPartners.Com
Crain
A Lauren
AL
Sherwood
Nancy E
NE
Hayes
Marcia
M
Pronk
Nico P
NP
O'Connor
Patrick J
PJ
D000368:Aged; D035841:Behavioral Research; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D011177:Postal Service; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone