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Despite the barriers described above, there are a
number of proven and promising approaches that individuals, clinicians, and
communities can take to help promote physical activity among older persons.
Interventions to promote physical activity have been reviewed by two national
task forces. The Task Force on Community Preventive Services, supported by CDC,
reviewed over 250 studies of interventions in the community. The U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force, supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality, conducted a comprehensive review of numerous studies involving primary
care practices. Additional reviews have focused on interventions in older
adults. Taken together, this research
has identified a limited list of key strategies that seem to be effective for
promoting regular physical activity, strategies that are likely to be effective
in older men and women as well as younger people. Notably, one review suggested
that people over 60 were more likely to participate in programs to encourage
physical activity than younger people.
Resources summarizing strategies for communities
have been developed. In 2000, about 50 government agencies and non-governmental
organizations participated in the development of the National Blueprint:
Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults Age 50 and Older. As one example,
the Administration on Aging for its national network of State and area agencies
on aging, tribal organizations, and service providers, has developed a pilot
project—"USA On the Move: Steps to Healthy Aging"—highlighting nutrition and
physical fitness. |
