Physical activity (PA) levels of community-dwelling adults aged 60 and over were assessed in Greece, in order to determine age and gender effects. PA was assessed using the PA Scale for the Elderly in 591 persons (287 males and 304 females), (Ã=74.04, SD=5.46). Participants were assigned into two age groups: A=65-75 and B=76-86 years. According to two way ANOVA, no significant differences were reported in total PA between men and women (p>.05) even though a significant age effect was reported with participants in Group A having higher scores than participants in Group B (p<.001). Men reported greater participation in recreational activities of moderate intensity (p<.001) and in exercises for muscular strength and endurance (p<.05). Women were more active in PA related to household (p<.001). Age effects resulted in favor of older adults in Group A 61-70 years when compared to older adults in Group B for walking, for recreational activities and for housework (p<.001). In conclusion, both gender and age affect PA participation of older adults in Greece.
Alexandris K, Carroll B. The relationship between selected demographic variables and recreational sport participation in Greece. Vol. 33, International Review for the Sociology of Sport. p. 291–8.
2.
Avlund K, Sakari-Rantala R, Rantanen T, Pedersen AN, Frandin K, Schroll M. Tiredness and onset of walking limitations in older adults. Vol. 52, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. p. 1963–5.
3.
Bijnen FC, Caspersen CJ, Mosterd WL. Physical inactivity as a risk for coronary heart disease: a WHO and International Society and Federation of Cardiology position statement. Vol. 72, Bulletin of the World Health Organization. p. 1–4.
4.
Blair SN, Kohl HW, Barlow CE. Physical activity, physical fitness, and all- cause mortality in women: do women need to be active? Vol. 12, Journal of the American College of Nutrition. p. 368–71.
5.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In: Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity.
6.
Craig CL, Cameron C. Increasing physical activity.
7.
Monitor PA, Craig CL, Russell SJ, Cameron C, Beaulieu A. Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute Canada. Reducing Inactivity Report. Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute.
8.
Crespo CJ, Keteyian SJ, Heath GW, Sempos CT. Leisure-time physical activity among US adults. Vol. 156, Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Archives of Internal Medicine. p. 93–8.
9.
Dallosso HM, Morgan K, Bassey EJ, Ebrahim SB, Fentem PH, Arie TH. Levels of customary physical activity among the old and the very old living at home. Vol. 42, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. p. 121–7.
10.
Dishman RK, Washburn RA, Heath GW. Physical activity and diabetes. In: Physical Activity Epidemiology. p. 191–207.
11.
Fagard RH. Exercise characteristics and the blood pressure response to dynamic physical training. Vol. 33, Medicine & Science in Sport & Exercise.
12.
Fletcher GF. Statement on exercise: Benefits and recommendations for physical activity programs for all Americans. A statement for health professionals by the Committee on Exercise and Cardiac Rehabilitation of the Council on Clinical Cardiology. Vol. 94, American Heart Association. Circulation. p. 857–62.
13.
Folsom AR, Arnett DK, Hutchinson RG, Liao F, Clegg LX, Cooper LS. Physical activity and incidence of coronary heart disease in middle-aged women and men. Vol. 29, Medicine & Science in Sport & Exercise. p. 901–9.
14.
Guralnik JM, Ferrucci L, Simonsick EM, Salive ME, Wallace RB. Lower-extremity function in persons over the age of 70 years as predictor of subsequent disability. Vol. 332, The New England Journal of Medicine. p. 556–61.
15.
Haapanen N, Miilunpalo S, Vuori I, Oja P, Pasanen M. Association of leisure time physical activity with the risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension and diabetes in middle-aged men and women. Vol. 26, International Journal of Epidemiology. p. 739–47.
16.
Hachisuka K, Tsutsui Y, Furusawa K, Ogata H. Gender differences in disability and lifestyle among community-dwelling elderly stroke patients in Kitakyushu, Japan. Vol. 79, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. p. 998–1002.
17.
Harahousou YS, Kabitsis CN. Important reasons that motivate Greek women into participation in physical recreation. In: Proceedings for the 10th Commonwealth & International scientific congress: access to active living. p. 113 118.
18.
Hirvensalo M, Rantanen T, Heikkinen E. Mobility difficulties and physical activity as predictors of mortality and loss of independence in the community-living older population. Vol. 48, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. p. 493–8.
19.
Horgas AL, Wilms HU, Bates MM. Daily life in very old age: everyday activities as expression of successful living. Vol. 38, The Gerontologist. p. 556–68.
20.
Jack MG, Luigi F. Assessing the building blocks of function: Utilizing measures of functional limitation. Vol. 25, American Journal of Preventive Medicine. p. 112–21.
21.
Jones DA, Ainsworth BE, Croft JB, Macera CA, Lloyd EE, Yusuf HR. Moderate leisure-time physical activity: who is meeting the public health recommendations? A national cross-sectional study. Vol. 7, Archives of Family Medicine. p. 285–9.
22.
Kamimoto LA, Easton AN, Maurice E, Husten CG, Macera CA. Surveillance for five health risks among older adults-United States, 1993-1997. Vol. 48, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. p. 89–156.
23.
Kinsella K, Velkoff VA. An aging world: 2001.
24.
Lakka TA, Venäläinen JM, Rauramaa R, Salonen R, Tuomilehto J, Salonen JT. Relation of leisure-time physical activity and cardio respiratory fitness to the risk of acute myocardial infraction in men. Vol. 330, The New England Journal of Medicine. p. 1549–54.
25.
Lee IM, Hsieh CC, Paffenbarger RS. Exercise intensity and longevity in men: the Harvard alumni health study. Vol. 273, The Journal of the American Medical Association. p. 1179–84.
26.
McTierman A. Recreational physical activity and the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women: the Women’s Health Initiative Cohort Study. Vol. 290, The Journal of the American Medical Association. p. 1331–6.
27.
Mensink GB, Deketh M, Mul MD, Schuit AJ, Hoffmeister H. Physical activity and its association with cardiovascular risk factors and mortality. Vol. 7, Epidemiology. p. 391–7.
28.
Michalopoulos M, Zisi V, Malliou P, Godolias G. Habitual activity and motor function in an urban Greek Elderly Population. Vol. 46, Journal of Human Movement Studies. p. 519–30.
29.
Michalopoulou M, Aggelousis N, Zisi V, Ventouri M, Kourtessis T, Malliou R. Physical Activity Patterns of Greek Adults Aged 60 - 90 years: Age and Gender Effects. Vol. 4, Inquiries in Sport & Physical Education. p. 87–96.
30.
Morris JN, Clayton DG, Everitt MG, Semmence AM, Burgess EH. Exercise in leisure-time: coronary attack and death rates. Vol. 63, British Heart Journal. p. 352–4.
31.
Paffenbarger RS, Hyde RT, Wing AL, Hsieh CC. Physical activity, all-cause mortality, and longevity of college alumni. Vol. 314, The New England Journal of Medicine. p. 605–13.
32.
Paffenbare a, o i in de, Change in physica acivil leVel and other asyle haracteristics with mortality among men. Vol. 328, The New England Journal of Medicine. p. 538–45.
33.
Sesso HD, Paffenbarger RS, Ha T, Lee IM. Physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk in middle-aged and older women. Vol. 150, American Journal of Epidemiology. p. 408–16.
34.
Schuit AJ, Schouten EG, Westerterp KR, Saris WH. Validity of the physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE): According to energy expenditure assessed by the doubly labeled water method. Vol. 50, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. p. 541–6.
35.
Shephard JR. Gender, physical activity and aging.
36.
Health USD, Services H. Health and aging chart book. DHHS Publication. p. 1232–41.
37.
V.
38.
Washburn RA, Ficker JL. Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE): the relationship with activity measured by a portable accelerometer. Vol. 39, Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. p. 336–40.
39.
Washburn RA, Smith KW, Jette AM, Janney CA. The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE): development and evaluation. Vol. 46, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. p. 153–62.
40.
Yusuf HR. Leisure-time physical activity among older adults. Vol. 156, Archives of Internal Medicine. p. 1321–6.
The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
