title: Physical activity and health-related quality of life among older men: an examination of current physical activity recommendations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between older men achieving versus not achieving American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the United States Department of Health and Human Services recommendations (USDHHS) physical activity (PA) recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Older-aged men (≥ 55 years) completed a mailed survey that assessed self-reported PA and HRQoL. Data were collected between September and October of 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  387 older men (Mean age=65) completed the survey. Under half (48%) reported achieving the ACSM recommendation while 64% reported achieving the USDHHS recommendation. Older men achieving the ACSM recommendation reported significantly higher scores in physical health (Δ=3.5, p<0.001), mental health (Δ=4.4, p<0.001), and global health (Δ=4.3, p<0.001) component scores compared to those not achieving the recommendation. Those achieving the higher dose recommended by the USDHHS (≥ 300 min per week of moderate-intensity activity) reported significantly higher scores on the PHC (Δ=2.1, p=0.029) and GHC (Δ=2.3, p=0.027) scales compared to those achieving the USDHHS base recommendation (150-299.9 min per week of moderate-intensity activity).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported PA was significantly and positively associated with higher HRQoL scores among older men. Associations were stronger for those achieving a higher volume of PA.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University, Athabasca, AB, Canada. jeffv@athabascau.ca
authors.forename: Jeff K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Vallance
authors.forename: Dean T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Eurich
authors.forename: Celeste M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lavallee
authors.forename: Steven T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology