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Differences in Physical Activity Patterns between Older and Younger Adults

2010; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 42; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1249/01.mss.0000384915.44668.9e

1530-0315

Eric S. Rawson, James M. Smoliga, Andrew C. Venezia, Christopher D. Still,

Physical Activity and Health

Physical activity (PA) between older and young adults can be compared objectively with accelerometers. However, older and young adults may not participate in similar types of PA (e.g. jogging vs. yard work), so a simplistic analysis may not reveal all age associated differences. PURPOSE: To compare the quality and quantity of PA and patterns of PA (e.g. lifestyle vs. purposeful walking/running) in older and young adults. METHODS: Twenty (10 M/10 F) older (72 yr) and twenty (10 M/10 F) young (21 yr) adults wore an accelerometer for seven days and data were analyzed using both the Freedson and Crouter 2-Regression equations. RESULTS: Using the Freedson equation, older adults had more light intensity PA (282 vs. 200 min/d), while younger adults had more moderate (34 vs. 15 min/d), vigorous (5 vs. 2 min/d), and very vigorous intensity PA (2 vs. 0 min/d). Overall, young adults had significantly more moderate to vigorous intensity PA than older adults (40 vs. 17 min/d). There was no difference in time spent in sedentary behaviors (young=507 min/d; older=534 min/d). Using the Crouter 2-Regression model, older adults had more moderate intensity lifestyle PA (151 vs. 117 min/d), while young adults had more vigorous intensity lifestyle PA (20 vs. 4 min/d). Also, the Crouter 2-Regression model revealed that younger adults had more moderate (10 vs. 4 min/d) and vigorous (5 vs. 0 min/d) intensity walking/running PA. There was no difference in moderate to vigorous intensity lifestyle PA between young and older adults. There was no difference in total moderate to vigorous intensity PA (lifestyle plus walk/run) between young and old adults calculated using the Crouter 2-Regression model; however, the Freedson equation indicated that young adults have greater overall moderate to vigorous activity than older adults. CONCLUSIONS: The use of two analytical approaches reveals that older and young adults participate in different types of PA and spend similar amounts of time in sedentary and moderate to vigorous intensity behavior. (Funding: NIH- NCCAM R15 AT003938-01)