title: Gardening as the dominant leisure time physical activity (LTPA) of older adults from a post-communist country. The results of the population-based PolSenior Project from Poland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the LTPA of older Polish citizens in the nationwide, representative population-based PolSenior Project.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study group comprising 4813 randomly recruited participants aged 65 and over was surveyed. Data concerning LTPA in relation to age, gender, place of residence, and social class have been reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 33.6% fulfilled the recommended LTPA criteria. Gardening (64.6%), walking (39.0%) and cycling (37.3%) were the most popular physical activities, followed by gymnastic exercises (18.2%) and dancing (12.8%). Village residents reported walking, gymnastics, swimming, tennis and dancing (32.5%, 9.1%, 1.8%, 0.1%, 8.1%) less frequently than those who live in cities, especially as compared to the residents of the largest cities (45.2%, 28.3%, 13.4%, 1.3%, 15.7%, respectively). However, the frequency of cycling generally decreased with the size of the place of residence. Village residents reported cycling and gardening more frequently (49.2% and 75.8%) than residents of the largest cities (20.6% and 45.8%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are several differences in the LTPA of older adults in Poland compared with those in North America or Western Europe. Community-based and environmental policies should concentrate on a combination of sustaining existing favorable physical activity (PA) habits (gardening and cycling), and developing access and motivation for participation in LTPA characteristic of developed countries.
authors: Faculty of Physical Education, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Marymoncka 34, 00-968 Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Rafal
authors: R
authors: Rowinski
authors: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport in Biala Podlaska, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Marymoncka 34, 00-968 Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Dabrowski
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Medical University of Lodz, Pl. Hallera 1, Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: tomaszkostka@wp.pl.
authors: Tomasz
authors: T
authors: Kostka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003148:Communism; D005260:Female; D051639:Gardening; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011044:Poland; D011159:Population Surveillance
keywords: Central-Eastern Europe; Elderly; Lifestyle; Poland; Socio-demographic factors