Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 28, 2025
Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
Membership in Sport or Exercise Groups Predicts Sustained Physical Activity and Longevity in Older Adults Compared to
1Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Background:
Physical activity tends to decline in older age, despite being key to health and longevity. Previous investigations have focused on demographic and individual factors that predict sustained physical activity.
Purpose:
To examine whether engaging in physical activity in the context of sport or exercise group membership can protect against age-related physical activity decline.
Methods:
Drawn from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, participants were members of sport or exercise groups aged 50 and over (N = 2015) as well as nonmember controls, who were matched at baseline for age, sex, and physical activity levels (N = 1881). Longitudinal mixed effects models were used to assess the effect of sport or exercise group membership on physical activity and longevity across a 14-year follow-up.
Results:
Members of sport or exercise groups experienced an attenuated decline in both moderate and vigorous physical activity over a 14-year follow-up compared to physically active matched controls. Sport or exercise group members were also less likely to have died at follow-up, an effect that was mediated through sustained physical activity.
Conclusions:
Promoting membership in sport and exercise groups may be a beneficial strategy for supporting sustained physical activity and health among older people.
Related Concept Videos
02:20Longitudinal Research
01:20Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues