title: The structure of physical activity in seniors from lower Silesia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity is considered to be one of the most important determinants of human health. Many authors emphasize the benefits of physical activity for elderly people--its positive influence on the functioning of many organs and systems, development of greater mobility, slowdown of the involution processes, and counteracting the effects of civilization diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze the structure of physical activity in older adults from the Lower Silesian region.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data was collected as part of the PolSenior national program. The subjects were selected randomly in three stages. The analysis was performed on the data from questionnaires filled out by 192 men and 164 women over the age of 65 years living in the Lower Silesian region. The answers were analyzed in categories such as: age (3 groups: 65-74 years, 75-84 years and over 85 years), gender, place of residence (communities up to 20 000 and over 20 000 inhabitants) and social-occupational status (blue-collar and white-collar workers). The survey results were shown in percentage form and concerned the different types of physical activity performed, the most frequent reasons for undertaking physical activity, sports and recreational physical activity during the respondents youth, between 30 and 60 years of age and at present, as well as the constraints and reasons that prevent an active lifestyle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With age the percentage of people who spend their free time actively decreases. In each age group of elderly people men declared a greater need for physical activity than women. The subjects also differed with the urban factor and social-occupational status. Moreover, the results showed that the larger community, the better the condition created for recreation of older adults and the people whose previous profession was not connected with physical work tried to be physically active in various forms more often than ex-manual laborers. It is probable that education significantly influences an active attitude towards one's health and proper lifestyle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical activity of seniors as a one of the basic elements of lifestyle is clearly connected with the environment in which older people live.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostructure, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland. zofia.ignasiak@awf.wroc.pl
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ignasiak
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sławińska
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dabrowski
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rowiński
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001642:Bicycling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D051639:Gardening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland; D011159:Population Surveillance; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data