title: Best-practice physical activity programs for older adults: findings from the national impact study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the impact of existing best-practice physical activity programs for older adults on physical activity participation and health-related outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a multisite, randomized trial with 544 older adults (mean age 66 years) and measures at baseline, 5, and 10 months to test the impact of a multiple-component physical activity program compared with results for a control group that did not participate in such a program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For adults who participated in a multiple-component physical activity program, we found statistically significant benefits at 5 and 10 months with regard to self-efficacy for exercise adherence over time (P < .001), adherence in the face of barriers (P = .01), increased upper- and lower-body strength (P = .02, P = .01), and exercise participation (P = .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Best-practice community-based physical activity programs can measurably improve aspects of functioning that are risk factors for disability among older adults. US public policy should encourage these inexpensive health promotion programs.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Center for Research on Health and Aging, Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60608, USA. shughes@uic.edu
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Rachel B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Whitelaw
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bazzarre
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D020377:Self Efficacy; D014481:United States