Activity adherence and physical function in older adults with functional limitations.
OBJECTIVE
Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Pilot (LIFE-P) was a trial to examine the effects of a physical activity intervention (PA) compared with a health education control (SA) on measures of disability risk in sedentary older adults (N = 424). We examined adherence to the LIFE-P PA intervention for the first 12 months of the trial.


METHODS
The PA intervention consisted of walking, strength, flexibility, and balance training supplemented with behavioral skills training modules, and it used a phased, center-based schedule of adoption (3x wk(-1), weeks 1-8), transition (2x wk(-1), weeks 9-24), and maintenance (1x wk(-1), weeks 25 to end of trial) while transitioning to primarily home-based physical activity. SA consisted of weekly (weeks 1-26) transitioning to monthly health education workshops.


RESULTS
Participation in moderate-intensity physical activity increased from baseline to months 6 and 12 in PA compared with SA (P < 0.001). At 12 months, PA participants who reported > or = 150 min x wk(-1) of moderate activity demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in their Short Physical Performance Battery score compared with participants who reported < 150 min.wk of moderate activity (P < 0.017). For the PA arm, center-based attendance was 76.3 +/- 24.5, 65.4 +/- 28.6, and 49.8 +/- 35.8% in the adoption, transition, and maintenance phases, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Adherence to physical activity in LIFE-P was associated with greater improvement in SPPB score and was consistent with adherence in physical activity trials of shorter duration in this subgroup of older adults. Older individuals at risk for disability can adhere to a regular program of physical activity in a long-term randomized trial.
Fielding
Roger A
RA
Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA. roger.fielding@tufts.edu
Katula
Jeffrey
J
Miller
Michael E
ME
Abbott-Pillola
Kari
K
Jordan
Alexander
A
Glynn
Nancy W
NW
Goodpaster
Brett
B
Walkup
Michael P
MP
King
Abby C
AC
Rejeski
W Jack
WJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D020377:Self Efficacy; D014481:United States