title: Long-term effect of physical activity counseling on mobility limitation among older people: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity counseling increases physical activity among older people, but its effectiveness on mobility, that is, maintaining the ability to move independently, is unknown. We studied the effect of physical activity counseling on mobility among older people and evaluated whether counseling-induced benefits persist after cessation of the intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a 2-year, single-blinded, randomized controlled study, 632 sedentary participants aged 75-81 years were randomly assigned into the intervention (n = 318) or control (n = 314) group. The intervention group received a single individualized physical activity counseling session with a supportive telephone contact every 4 months for 2 years. The outcome measures-perceived difficulty in advanced (walking 2 km) and basic (walking 0.5 km) mobility-were gathered semiannually during the intervention and the 1.5-year postintervention follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of participants with difficulties in advanced mobility at the beginning and end of the intervention was 34% and 38%, respectively, in the intervention group. In the control group, the corresponding proportions were 32% and 45%. The treatment effect was significant at the 2-year follow-up (odds ratio [OR] 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70-0.99; p = .04) and remained significant 1.5 years postintervention (OR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68-0.99; p = .04). The effect on basic mobility postintervention was parallel but nonsignificant (OR 0.87, CI: 0.69-1.09; p = .22).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among older people, a single individualized physical activity counseling session with a supportive phone contact every 4 months for 2 years had a positive effect on mobility, an important factor for maintaining independence in the community in old age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Finnish Center for Interdisciplinary Gerontology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. minna.manty@sport.jyu.fi
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mänty
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinonen
authors.forename: Raija
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leinonen
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Törmäkangas
authors.forename: Mirja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirvensalo
authors.forename: Mauri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kallinen
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sakari
authors.forename: Mikaela B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: von Bonsdorff
authors.forename: Eino
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heikkinen
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rantanen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors