Physical fitness related to age and physical activity in older persons

Objective: This study investigated physical fitness as a function of age and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in a community-based sample of 624 persons aged 57 yr and older. Methods: LTPA during the last 12 months was assessed through personal interviews. A wide range of physical fitness components was measured using performance-based tests. Results: Physical fitness was associated with the interaction age by LTPA in only a few components, in a gender-specific way, with generally larger differences in fitness between active and less active persons with increasing age. All LTPA, including low intensity LTPA, is positively and age-independent associated with most physical fitness components. Conclusion: The importance of LTPA typically participated in by the general population lies not so much in the delaying of the motor aging process but rather in a general, age-independent, positive effect.