The Effects of Age, Organized Physical Activity and Sedentarism on Fitness in Older Adults: An 8-Year Longitudinal Study

Alejandro Gomez-Bruton, David Navarrete-Villanueva, Jorge Pérez-Gómez, Sara Vila-Maldonado, Eva Gesteiro, Narcis Gusi, Jose Gerardo Villa-Vicente, Luis Espino, Marcela Gonzalez-Gross, Jose A. Casajus, Ignacio Ara, Alba Gomez-Cabello and German Vicente-Rodríguez
Additional contact information
Alejandro Gomez-Bruton: GENUD (Growth, Exercise, NUtrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
David Navarrete-Villanueva: GENUD (Growth, Exercise, NUtrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Jorge Pérez-Gómez: HEME Research Group, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Sara Vila-Maldonado: GENUD Toledo Research Group, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Eva Gesteiro: Red española de Investigación en Ejercicio Físico y Salud, EXERNET, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Narcis Gusi: CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Jose Gerardo Villa-Vicente: Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León, 24071 León, Spain
Luis Espino: Unit of Sport Medicine, Cabildo of Gran Canaria, 35002 Gran Canaria, Spain
Marcela Gonzalez-Gross: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Jose A. Casajus: GENUD (Growth, Exercise, NUtrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Ignacio Ara: Red española de Investigación en Ejercicio Físico y Salud, EXERNET, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Alba Gomez-Cabello: GENUD (Growth, Exercise, NUtrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
German Vicente-Rodríguez: GENUD (Growth, Exercise, NUtrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: The aims of the present study were (1) to describe the changes in physical fitness during an 8 year follow-up in a large sample of Spanish adults aged 65 or over that are initially engaged in organized physical activity (OPA), (2) to compare fitness changes according to different age groups (65 to 69 vs. 70 to 74 vs. ≥75 years-old), (3) to evaluate the independent and combined effects of changes in OPA engagement and sitting time (ST) on physical fitness. A total of 642 (147 males) non-institutionalized over 65 years-old participants completed the EXERNET battery fitness tests and completed a validated questionnaire from which information regarding OPA and ST were collected. All participants completed evaluations in 2008–2009 and in 2016–2017. An impairment of fitness-related variables happens after 65 years of age in both males and females, with the older participants (≥75), showing the largest decreases. Males who continued performing OPA demonstrated lower decreases in balance, leg flexibility and agility when compared to those who stopped performing OPA during the follow-up. Females who continued performing OPA demonstrated lower decreases of all variables except for balance when compared to those who stopped performing OPA during the follow-up.

Keywords: aging; elderly; exercise; muscle; health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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