Effect of Low-intensity Exercise on Physical and Cognitive Health in Older Adults: a Systematic Review

Sports Medicine - Open

Volumn 1, Issue 1, 2015, Pages

  Tse, Andy C Y ^a   Wong, Thomson W L ^b   Lee, Paul H ^c  

^a THE EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG   (Hong Kong)

^b UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG   (Hong Kong)

^c HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY   (Hong Kong)

Author keywords

Cognitive health; Low intensity exercise; Older adults; Physical health

Indexed keywords

EID: 85014754167     PISSN: None     EISSN: 21989761     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1186/s40798-015-0034-8     Document Type: Review

References (99)

1. Anderson GF, Hussey PS. Population aging: a comparison among industrialized countries. Health Affairs. 2000;19:191–203.
2. Badley EM, Wang PP. Arthritis and the aging population: projections of arthritis prevalence in Canada 1991 to 2031. J Rheumatol. 1998;25:138–44.
3. Meng X, D’Arcy C. Successful aging in Canada: prevalence and predictors from a population-based sample of older adults. Gerontology. 2013;60:65–72.
4. Muniz-Terrera G, van den Hout RA, Piccinin AM, Matthews FE, Hofer SM. Investigating terminal decline: results from a UK population-based study of aging. Psychol Aging. 2013;28:377.
5. Sheets DJ, Gallagher EM. Aging in Canada: state of the art and science. The Gerontologist. 2013;53:1–8.
6. Stewart S, MacIntyre K, Capewell S, McMurray JJV. Heart failure and the aging population: an increasing burden in the 21st century? Heart. 2003;89:49–53.
7. Wang Y, Graham C, Colditz A, Kuntz KM. Forecasting the obesity epidemic in the aging US population. Obesity. 2007;15:2855–65.
8. Census and Statistics Department, HKSAR Hong Kong Population Project 2012–2041. Census and Statistics Department, 2012. http://www.statistics.gov.hk/pub/B71208FB2012XXXXB0100.pdf. Accessed 11 Aug 2014.
9. Tanaka H, Seals DR. Age and gender interactions in physiological functional capacity: insight from swimming performance. J Appl Physio. 1997;82:846–51.
10. Buchner DM, Wagner EH. Preventing frail health. Clin Geriatr Med. 1992;8:1–17.
11. Jette AM, Branch LG, Berlin J. Musculoskeletal impairments and physical disablement among the aged. J Gerontol. 1990;45:203–8.
12. Census and Statistics Department. Socio-demographic profile, health status and self-care capability of older persons, thematic household survey report No. 40. Hong Kong: HKSAR 2009.
13. Khaw KT. How many, how old, how soon? Bri Med J. 1999;319:1350.
14. Rubenstein LZ. Falls in older people: epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for prevention. Age Ageing. 2006;35:37–41.
15. Chiu HFK, Lam LCW, Chi I, Leung T, Li SW, Law WT, et al. Prevalence of dementia in Chinese elderly in Hong Kong. Neurology. 1998;50:1002–9.
16. Chu LW. Alzheimer’s disease: early diagnosis and treatment. Hong Kong Med J. 2012;18:228–37.
17. Fisher GG, Stachowski A, Infurna FJ, Faul JD, Grosch J, Tetrick LE. Mental work demands, retirement, and longitudinal trajectories of cognitive functioning. J Occup Health Psychol. 2014;19:231.
18. Plassman BL, Langa KM, Fisher GG, Heeringa SG, Weir DR, Ofstedal MB, et al. Prevalence of cognitive impairment without dementia in the United States. Ann Intern Med. 2008;148:427–34.
19. Wortmann M. Dementia: a global health priority-highlights from an ADI and World Health Organization report. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2012;4:40.
20. Der G, Batty GD, Deary IJ. The association between IQ in adolescence and a range of health outcomes at 40 in the 1979 US national longitudinal study of youth. Intelligence. 2009;376:573–80.
21. González HM, Bowen ME, Fisher GG. Memory decline and depressive symptoms in a nationally representative sample of older adults: the health and retirement study (1998–2004). Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2008;25:266–71.
22. HKSAR. The 2013–2014 Budget. HKSAR [Internet] 2013. [Cited 2014 Aug 11]. Available from http://www.budget.gov.hk/2013/eng/budget27.html.
23. Chou CH, Hwang CL, Wu YT. Effect of exercise on physical function, daily living activities, and quality of life in the frail older adults: a meta-analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012;93:237–44.
24. Manson JE, Hu FB, Rich-Edwards JW, Colditz GA, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC, et al. A prospective study of walking as compared with vigorous exercise in the prevention of coronary heart disease in women. New Engl J Med. 1999;341:650–58.
25. Mazzeo R, Tanaka H. Exercise prescription for the elderly. Sports Med. 2001;31:809–18.
26. Pedersen BK, Saltin B. Evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in chronic disease. Scand J Med Sci Spor. 2006;16:3–63.
27. Roberts CK, Barnard RJ. Effects of exercise and diet on chronic disease. J Appl Physio. 2005;98:3–30.
28. Taylor AH, Cable NT, Faulkner G, Hillsdon M, Narici M, Van Der Bij AK. Physical activity and older adults: a review of health benefits and the effectiveness of interventions. J Sports Sci. 2004;22:703–25.
29. Caspersen CJ, Powell KE, Christenson GM. Physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness: definitions and distinctions for health-related research. Public health Rep. 1985;2:126.
30. Nieman DC. Exercise testing and prescription. A health-related approach 5th ed. Mountain View (CA): Mayfield 2003: 63–5
31. Barnett A, Smith B, Lord SR, Williams M, Baumand A. Community‐based group exercise improves balance and reduces falls in at‐risk older people: a randomised controlled trial. Age Ageing. 2003;32:407–14.
32. Reinsch S, MacRae P, Lachenbruch PA, Tobis JS. Attempts to prevent falls and injury: a prospective community study. The Gerontologist. 1992;32:450–56.
33. Sturnieks DL, St George R, Lord RS. Balance disorders in the elderly. Neurophysiol Clin. 2008;38:467–78.
34. Weerdesteyn V, Rijken H, Geurts ACH, Smits-Engelsman BCM, Mulder T, Duysens J. A five-week exercise program can reduce falls and improve obstacle avoidance in the elderly. Gerontology. 2006;52:131–41.
35. Heyn P, Abreu BC, Ottenbacher KJ. The effects of exercise training on elderly persons with cognitive impairment and dementia: a meta-analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004;85:1694–704.
36. Ruuskanen JM, Ruoppila I. Physical activity and psychological well-being among people aged 65 to 84 years. Age Ageing. 1995;24:292–96.
37. Uffelen JGZ, Paw MJM CA, Hopman-Rock M, Mechelen W. The effects of exercise on cognition in older adults with and without cognitive decline: a systematic review. Clin J Sport Med. 2008;18:486–500.
38. Armstrong L. ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.
39. Jette M, Sidney K, Blümchen G. Metabolic equivalents (METS) in exercise testing, exercise prescription, and evaluation of functional capacity. Clin Cardiol. 1990;13:555–65.
40. Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Herrmann SD, Meckes N, Bassett Jr DR, Tudor-Locke C, et al. 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities: a second update of codes and MET values. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43:1575–81.
41. Pollock ML, Gaesser GA, Butcher JD, Després JP, Dishman RK, Franklin BA, et al. ACSM position stand: the recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and flexibility in healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;30:975–91.
42. Department of Health, HKSAR. Classification of physical activity and level of intensity. HKSAR,2011.http://www.change4health.gov.hk/en/physical_avtivity/facts/classification/index.html. Accesed 11 Aug 2014.
43. World Health Organization. Global health risks: mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks. World Health Organization 2009.
44. Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee. Physical activity guidelines advisory committee report, 2008. Washington: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2008. p. 1–14.
45. Larson EB, Wang L, Bowen JD, McCormick WC, Teri L, Crane P, et al. Exercise is associated with reduced risk for incident dementia among Persons 65 years of age and older. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144:73–81.
46. Mather AS, Rodriguez C, Guthrie MF, Mcharg AM, Reid IC, McMurdo MET. Effects of exercise on depressive symptoms in older adults with poorly responsive depressive disorder: randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry. 2002;180:411–15.
47. Sims J, Hill K, Davidson S, Gunn J, Huang N. Exploring the feasibility of a community-based strength training program for older people with depressive symptoms and its impact on depressive symptoms. BMC Geriatr. 2006;6:18.
48. Singh NA, Clements KM, Singh MAF. The efficacy of exercise as a long-term antidepressant in elderly subjects: a randomized controlled trial. J Gerontol Med Sci. 2001;56:497–504.
49. Seynnes O, Fiatarone Singh MA, Hue O, Pras P, Legros P, Bernard PL. Physiological and functional responses to low-moderate versus high-intensity progressive resistance training in frail elders. J Gerontol Series A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2004;59:503–09.
50. Butcher LR, Backx ATK, Webb ALEDRR, Morris K. Low-intensity exercise exerts beneficial effects on plasma lipids via PPARF. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40:1263–70.
51. Lee I, Rexrode KM, Cook NR, Manson JE, Buring JE. Physical activity and coronary heart disease in women: is “no pain, no gain” passé? JAMA. 2001;285:1447–54.
52. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. Ann Intern Med. 2009;159:264–9.
53. Downs SH, Black N. The feasibility of creating a checklist for the assessment of the methodological quality both of randomised and non-randomised studies of health care interventions. J Epidemiol Commun H. 1998;52:377–84.
54. Blair CK, Morey MC, Desmond RA, Cohen HJ, Sloane R, Snyder DC, et al. Light-intensity activity attenuates functional decline in older cancer survivors. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2014;46:1375–83.
55. Brown M, Sinacore DR, Ehsani AA, Binder EF, Holloszy JO, Kohrt WM. Low-Intensity exercise as a modifier of physical frailty in older adults. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2000;81:960–65.
56. Dawe D, Moore-Orr R. Low-intensity, range-of-motion exercise: invaluable nursing care for elderly patients. J Adv Nur. 1995;21:675–81.
57. DeVito CA, Morgan RO, Duque M, Abdel-Moty E, Virnig BA. Physical performance effects of low-intensity exercise among clinically defined high-risk elders. Gerontology. 2003;49:146–54.
58. Lam LCW, Chau RCM, Wong BML, Fung AWT, Lui VWC, Tam CCW, et al. Interim follow-up of a randomized controlled trial comparing Chinese style mind body (Tai Chi) and stretching exercises on cognitive function in subjects at risk of progressive cognitive decline. Int J Geriatr. 2011;26:733–40.
59. Li F, Harmer P, Fisher KJ, McAuley E, Chaumeton N, Eckstrom E, et al. Tai Chi and fall reductions in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2005;60:187–94.
60. Mangione KK, McCully K, Gloviak A, Lefebvre I, Hofmann M, Craik R. The effects of high-intensity and low-intensity cycle ergometry in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1999;54:184–90.
61. Means KM, Rodell DE, O’Sullivan PS, Cranford LA. Rehabilitation of elderly fallers: pilot study of a low to moderate intensity exercise program. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1996;77:1030–36.
62. Morey MC, Snyder DC, Sloane R, Cohen HJ, Peterson B, Hartman TJ, et al. Effects of home-based diet and exercise on functional outcomes among older, overweight long-term cancer survivors: renew: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2009;301:1883–91.
63. Morgan RO, Virnig BA, Duque M, Abdel-Moty E, DeVito CA. Low-intensity exercise and reduction of the risk for falls among at-risk elders. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2004;59:1062–67.
64. Motl R, Konopack J, McAuley E, Elavsky S, Jerome G, Marquez D. Depressive symptoms among older adults: Long-term reduction after a physical activity intervention. J Behav Med. 2005;28:385–94.
65. Rosie J, Taylor D. Sit-to-stand as home exercise for mobility-limited adults over 80 years of age—GrandStand SystemTM may keep you standing? Age and Ageing. 2007;36:555–62.
66. Schnelle JF, Kapur K, Alessi C, Osterweil D, Beck JG, Al-Samarrai NR, et al. Does an exercise and incontinence intervention save healthcare costs in a nursing home population? J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003;51:161–68.
67. Singh NA, Stavrinos TM, Scarbek Y, Galambos G, Liber C, Fiatarone Singh MA. A randomized controlled trial of high versus low intensity weight training versus general practitioner care for clinical depression in older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2005;60:768–76.
68. Wolfson L, Whipple R, Derby C, Judge J, King M, Amerman P, et al. Balance and strength training in older adults: intervention gains and Tai Chi maintenance. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1996;44:498–506.
69. Hausdorff JM, Rios DA, Edelberg HK. Gait variability and fall risk in community-living older adults: a 1-year prospective study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001;82:1050–56.
70. Kannus P, Parkkari J, Koskinen S, Niemi S, Palvanen M, Järvinen M, et al. Fall-induced injuries and deaths among older adults. JAMA. 1999;281:1895–99.
71. Sattin RW. Falls among older persons: a public health perspective. Annu Rev Public Health. 1992;13:489–508.
72. Chu LW, Chiu AYY, Chi I. Falls and subsequent health service utilization in community-dwelling Chinese older adults. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2008;46:125–35.
73. Nevitt MC, Cummings SR, Kidd S, Black D. Risk factors for recurrent nonsyncopal falls: a prospective study. JAMA. 1989;261:2663–68.
74. Tinetti ME, Speechley M, Ginter SF. Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community. New Engl J Med. 1988;319:1701–7.
75. Close J, Ellis M, Hooper R, Glucksman E, Jackson S, Swift C. Prevention of falls in the elderly trial (PROFET): a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet. 1999;353:93–7.
76. Tinetti ME, Doucette J, Claus E, Marottoli R. Risk factors for serious injury during falls by older persons in the community. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1995;43:1214–1221.
77. Biderman A, Cwikel J, Fried AV, Galinsky D. Depression and falls among community dwelling elderly people: a search for common risk factors. J Epidemiol Com H. 2002;56:631–6.
78. Tinetti ME, Richman D, Powell L. Falls efficacy as a measure of fear of falling. J Gerontol. 1990;45:239–43.
79. Vellas BJ, Wayne SJ, Romero LJ, Baumgartner RN, Garry PJ. Fear of falling and restriction of mobility in elderly fallers. Age Ageing. 1997;26:189–93.
80. Gardner MM, Robertson MC, Campbell AJ. Exercise in preventing falls and fall related injuries in older people: a review of randomised controlled trials. Brit J Sport Med. 2000;34:7–17.
81. King MB, Tinetti ME. Falls in community-dwelling older persons. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1995;43:1146–54.
82. Rubenstein LZ, Josephson KR, Trueblood PR, Loy S, Harker JO, Pietruszka FM, et al. Effects of a group exercise program on strength, mobility, and falls among fall-prone elderly men. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2000;55:317–21.
83. Wu G. Evaluation of the effectiveness of Tai Chi for improving balance and preventing falls in the older population—a review. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002;50:746–54.
84. Choi JH, Moon J-S, Song R. Effects of Sun-style Tai Chi exercise on physical fitness and fall prevention in fall-prone older adults. J Adv Nur. 2005;51:150–7.
85. Logghe IHJ, Verhagen AP, Rademaker ACHJ, Bierma-Zeinstra SMA, van Rossum E, Faber MJ, et al. The effects of Tai Chi on fall prevention, fear of falling and balance in older people: a meta-analysis. Prev Med. 2010;51:222–7.
86. Province MA, Hadley EC, Hornbrook MC, Lipsitz LA, Miller JP, Mulrow CD, et al. The effects of exercise on falls in elderly patients: a preplanned meta-analysis of the ficsit trials. JAMA. 1995;273:1341–7.
87. Wolf SL, Coogler C, Xu T. Exploring the basis for Tai Chi Chuan as a therapeutic exercise approach. Arch Physl Med Rehabil. 1997;78:886–92.
88. Chi I, Yip PSF, Chiu HFK, Chou KL, Chan KS, Kwan CW, et al. Prevalence of depression and its correlates in Hong Kong’s Chinese older adults. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2005;13:409–16.
89. Chapman DP, Perry GS. Peer reviewed: depression as a major component of public health for older adults. Prev Chronic Dis. 2008;5:1–9.
90. Beck AT, Alford BA. Depression: causes and treatment. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press; 2009.
91. Barbour KA, Blumenthal JA. Exercise training and depression in older adults. Neurobiol Aging. 2005;26:119–23.
92. Blumenthal JA, Babyak MA, Moore KA, Craighead WE, Herman S, Khatri P, et al. Effects of exercise training on older patients with major depression. Arch Intern Med. 1999;159:2349–56.
93. Ensari I, Motl RW, Pilutti LA. Exercise training improves depressive symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis: results of a meta-analysis. J Psychosom Res. 2014;76:465–71.
94. Dunn AL, Trivedi MH, Kampert JB, Clark CG, Chambliss HO. Exercise treatment for depression: efficacy and dose response. Am J Prev Med. 2005;28:1–8.
95. Josefsson T, Lindwall M, Archer T. Physical exercise intervention in depressive disorders: meta-analysis and systematic review. Scand J Med Sci Spor. 2014;24:259–72.
96. McNeil JK, LeBlanc EM, Joyner M. The effect of exercise on depressive symptoms in the moderately depressed elderly. Psychol Aging. 1991;6:487.
97. Pollock ML, Franklin BA, Balady GJ, Chaitman BL, Fleg JL, Fletcher B, et al. Resistance exercise in individuals with and without cardiovascular disease: benefits, rationale, safety, and prescription an advisory from the committee on exercise, rehabilitation, and prevention, council on clinical cardiology, American Heart Association. Circulation. 2000;101:828–33.
98. Allen K, Morey M. Physical activity and adherence. In: Bosworth H, editor. Improving Patient Treatment Adherence. New York: Springer; 2010. p. 9–38.
99. King AC, Rejeski WJ, Buchner DM. Physical activity interventions targeting older adults: a critical review and recommendations. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 1998;15:316–33.