Physical Activity and Its Determinants among Senior Residents of Podlasie, a Green Region of Poland, Based on the National PolSenior Study

Level of body mass index, functional fitness, quality of life, and satisfaction with life among women aged 60+ years participating in an organised pro-health training programme

Introduction

The aim of the study is to assess changes in body mass index (BMI), functional fitness, satisfaction with and quality of life among women 60+ years after participating in a 9-month organised health training programme.

Material and methods

Research on a group of 74 women aged 60-83 years (M = 67.8; SD = 5.1) was conducted twice, at the beginning and after 9 months of the health training programme (90 minutes, twice a week). The following tools were used in the research: SECA model 764 device, Fullerton functional fitness test, the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire, and the satisfaction with life scale. Calculations were performed using the Statistica 13.1 program, via Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients as well as Student's t-test for dependent measurements and the Wilcoxon paired test. Interactive repeated measures analysis of variance was also used. The assumed level of significance was α = 0.05.

Results

Comparing the results before and after implementing the health training programme, it was found that the average BMI value decreased (p < 0.001), while the functional fitness indicators, including the tests: 30-second chair stand (p < 0.001), 30-second arm curl (p < 0.001), back scratch (p = 0.001) and two-minute step-in-place (p = 0.002), increased. Between the first and second measurement, differences in quality of life profiles were also demonstrated, with 3 aspects of quality of life intensifying (somatic, psychological, and environmental), the psychological aspect increasing the most.

Conclusions

The obtained results confirmed the positive impact of the 9-month health training programme on the BMI, functional fitness, and quality of life of women above the age of 60 years.

Active or Passive Aging? Analysis of Selected Socioeconomic Factors in the Polish Population

The aim of this study was to identify the factors that determined the participation of people aged 60 years and older in physical activity (PA) at least once or more frequently in the year before the survey. The analysis included sociodemographic variables, any certificate of disability, level of physical fitness, and declared sports skills. The study used data from the "Participation of Poles in Sports and Physical Recreation in 2012" survey (designed and conducted by Statistics Poland). Questionnaires from 2724 people qualified for analysis. An analysis of frequency and odds ratio (followed by logistic regression analysis) was used to evaluate the determinants of participation of older adults in PA. Participation in PA was declared by 23.7%, most often by older adults aged 60-64 years (chi² = 67.72; p < 0.001). With age, the likelihood of participation in PA declined until the age of 75, when the percentage of active participants increased to 27.4%. Of the variables analyzed (logistic regression model), only very good (p < 0.001) and good (p = 0.002) levels of self-rated physical fitness, secondary (p = 0.014) or tertiary (p = 0.003) education, and a higher number of declared sports skills (p < 0.001) had a favorable effect on the frequency of participation in PA. The low PA of Poles aged 60 years and over (especially those entering retirement age) requires social intervention. Instead of focusing sports policy on increasing the number of participants, it seems more reasonable to focus on individuals living in rural areas with lower socio-professional status and physical fitness. It is necessary to use an individual approach (according to abilities, skill level, and needs) and create systems of interrelations that would provide older adults with support (including the use of social resources).

Determinants of Physical Activity in Older Adults in South-Eastern Poland

The aim of our study is to assess factors determining the uptake of physical activity (PA) by older people living in south-eastern Poland. This is a cross-sectional study. The study included 858 older people aged 75 and over living in south-eastern Poland. PA was assessed by asking about the time spent on any at least moderate PA per week and about doing planned strengthening exercises to improve muscle strength and muscular endurance. Functional status, disability and quality of life in older people were also assessed. Logistic regression models were used to identify the factors related to PA. In the study group, only 25.64% performed a minimum of 150 min of moderate-intensity exercise, while strengthening exercises were performed by 22.49%. The most important factors influencing the uptake of PA were age, number of chronic diseases, place of residence, education, social activity, housing conditions, quality of life and health status. In summary, the study population represents a low level of PA uptake, with the majority not meeting the World Health Organization recommendations for PA uptake by older people. Our findings suggest individualized efforts to promote public health and increase PA among older people over 75 years of age.

The Structure of the Relationship between Physical Activity and Psychosocial Functioning of Women and Men during the COVID-19 Epidemic in Poland

Since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is a serious crisis in many countries around the world, it is important to conduct empirical research aimed at identifying risks and factors protecting the functioning of people affected by it. For this reason, the goals of the present research were to determine the level of physical activity and the severity of symptoms characteristic of mental disorders, cognitive disorders and the quality of social functioning, as well as the structure of the relationship between physical activity and psychosocial functioning of 226 women and 226 men during the COVID-19 epidemic in Eastern Poland. The research was conducted using the IPAQ-SF Questionnaire, GHQ-28 Questionnaires, TUS Test-6/9 version, the original SFS Scale and a self-developed sociodemographic survey. The collected data indicate that women as compared to men show lower levels of weekly physical activity, walking, moderate activity, vigorous activity and quality of functioning in family relationships, but higher severity of mental health disorders, somatic symptoms, functional disorders, depressive symptoms, cognitive disorders, perceptual work disorders, attention deficits and higher quality of functioning in work relationships. On the other hand, the structural model indicates that physical activity, interacting with mental health disorders and cognitive disorders, is positively associated with the social functioning of the respondents, and gender is the moderator of the occurring dependencies. This suggests that physical activity adapted to the condition of health may be an important component of gender-individualized psychopreventive interventions.

Characteristics of Physical Activities and Environmental Factor Preferences of Older Adults in Rural Resettlement Community in Ningbo, China

As physical mobility declines, older adults become increasingly dependent on their living environment. The relationship between physical activities and community environments for older adults has been studied to help promote physical and mental health and increase social connections among older adults, thereby improving their quality of life and health status. This study analyzed the daily outdoor physical activities of older adults in Nanyu New Village, China, using behavior mapping and questionnaire research for data collection, and conducting a comprehensive analysis of the spatial, temporal, and environmental elements of the physical activities. This research showed that the physical activity choices of older adults in rural resettlement neighborhoods vary significantly by time, gender, and space. In decreasing order, surrounding support, site security, space convenience, beautiful landscape, and diverse facilities influence the outdoor physical activities of older adults. This study provides new insights into the ongoing debate on age-friendly communities and provides a useful reference for the design of age-friendly retrofitting of outdoor environments in rural resettlement communities.

Factors Affecting Physical Activity of People with Knee Osteoarthritis in Southern Taiwan: A Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) is a basic and initiative conservative management for people with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This study aimed to explore the potential indicators of PA levels in people with KOA.

METHODS

We designed a cross-sectional study where people with KOA were consecutively approached by the Orthopedic Outpatient Department in a hospital in southern Taiwan. People older than 50 years that could communicate and consent to the present study were enrolled. As a dependent variable, the Chinese version of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE-C) was used to assess the participant's PA levels. Considering differences in sex, a PASE-C score cut-off point of 140 for men and 120 for women was used. Participants were then divided into "active" and "inactive" groups. We measured independent variables consisting of the demographic and clinical characteristics, such as comorbidities measured by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), depression status measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale-5, body mass index, KOA history (<5, 5-<10, and ≥10 years), knee pain (unilateral or bilateral), the severity of symptoms measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and 6-meter preferred walking speed. Multiple logistic regression was performed to identify significant relationships between PA among people with KOA.

RESULTS

We analyzed a total of 188 people with KOA (56 men and 132 women) with a mean age of 69.4 ± 7.9 (range: 51 to 90 years). Approximately 72.9% (n = 137) were categorized as "inactive PA," while 27.1% (n = 51) of participants were categorized as "active PA" (male: 32.1%; female: 25.0%). Multiple logistic regression showed a positive association of 6-meter preferred walking speed with active PA (OR: 7.08; 95% CI:1.14-44.13), whereas advanced age and comorbidity (CCI≥1 vs. CCI<1) were negatively associated with active PA with an OR (95% CI) score of 0.91 (0.86-0.97) and 0.37 (0.15-0.87), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

People with KOA require appropriate lifestyle management to increase PA. Walking speed may be an effective factor for predicting PA among people with KOA. Healthcare providers treating KOA patients should be aware of their PA levels, especially those at risk.