The literature on exercise and physical activity in older adults has exploded over the past two decades as the field of health and aging has come to realize the
significance of regular physical activity as a means of promoting health in older adults as well as the difficulty in promoting regular physical activity in this
predominantly sedentary population. The focus of this entry is on physical activity in older populations. It provides a brief summary of the status of research in
several key areas, including the types and levels of physical activity among older populations, the factors and antecedents associated with physical activity, the
health benefits of physical activity among diverse groups, and the current evidence on programs and interventions promoting regular physical activity among older adults. The entry concludes with recommendations on needed research and promising directions in physical activity.
Several interrelated terms are used to describe physical activity in the literature, including exercise, regular physical activity, specific activities such as walking, and leisure time physical activity. Physical activity is defined as engaging in a body of movements produced by skeletal muscles that result in energy expenditure above the basal level. Leisure time physical activity is defined as participating in physically active hobbies or sports or exercising within a 2- week period. These measures are typically based on self-reports and are used in national surveys and ongoing surveillance. The types of exercises used to qualify the types of movement can be classified as aerobic, strength and resistance training, range of motion, or balance. Regular physical activity is a lifestyle, exercise is a behavior, and the terms are not interchangeable.
s Report on Physical Activity conclude that older adults exercise less than, and are more sedentary than, other adult age
groups. More than 60% of older adults do not participate in regular physical activity, and 31% are sedentary. There are demographic differences in the levels
and types of physical activity within the older population. Within the older population, those age 75 years and older, females, and non-Whites are more physically inactive.
In terms of specific types of activity, older adults are more likely to participate in aerobic exercise than in strength training. Walking is the most popular form
of aerobic activity among older adults. In fact, one quarter of those age 65 years and older meet current public health recommendations of walking five or
more times per week for 30 minutes per time. Data from the 2001 National Health Interview Survey show that 11% of respondents age 65 years and older report
engaging in strength training 2 or more days per week. Smaller percentages of those age 75 years and older, females, Blacks, and Hispanics report participating
in recommended levels of strength training. Finally, the percentage of older adults who engage in regular physical activity is improving. Based on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, older adults reporting no leisure time physical activity decreased from 30.5% in 1988 to 25.1% in 2002.