title: The Impact of an Active Lifestyle on the Functional Fitness Level of Older Women.
abstract: The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that to maintain health, adults should engage in 150 min of moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the lowest MVPA dose possible to maintain functional fitness. Functional fitness was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test in 101 women (75.0 ± 7.2 years) from two Midwestern communities. Accelerometer determined daily activity level was assessed for 7 days as participants went about their normal daily activities. MVPA was determined via proprietary filtering, and time spent in this intensity was calculated. A 5-day average of time spent in MVPA was organized into four groups. ANOVAs revealed significant differences between activity groups on all functional fitness measures except back scratch and sit and reach. Results indicate that to maintain lower body function in older women, a threshold of 20 min/day of MVPA for 5 days is needed.
authors.affiliation: 1 Wichita State University, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ofei-Dodoo
authors.affiliation: 1 Wichita State University, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: 2 Bowling Green State University, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: 1 Wichita State University, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Sahar B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Amini
authors.affiliation: 3 National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya Health Science, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takeshima
authors.affiliation: 1 Wichita State University, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D000070497:Healthy Lifestyle; D006801:Humans; D010809:Physical Fitness; D013997:Time Factors; D000070857:Walk Test
keywords: active lifestyle; functional fitness; lower body function; older women