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Frailty in relation to sedentary behaviours and moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2014

Joanna Blodgett
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Centre for Health Care of the Elderly, Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Olga Theou
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, Centre for Health Care of the Elderly, Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Susan Kirkland
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Centre for Health Care of the Elderly, Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Department of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, Centre for Health Care of the Elderly, Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Pantelis Andreou
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Centre for Health Care of the Elderly, Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Kenneth Rockwood*
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, Centre for Health Care of the Elderly, Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Centre for Health Care of the Elderly, Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
*
Address for correspondence: Kenneth Rockwood, Centre for Health Care of the Elderly, QEII Health Sciences Centre, Capital District Health Authority, Dalhousie University, Suite 1421, 5955 Veterans’ Memorial Lane, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 2E1, Canada. Email: kenneth.rockwood@dal.ca

Summary

As the mean life expectancy of the population continues to increase, the challenge for individuals is to remain healthy and fit throughout their life span. This review examines the relationships between moderate-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behaviour in relation to the fitness-frailty continuum. The association between increased physical activity and decreased adverse health outcomes is firmly established. A direct association between frailty and moderate-vigorous physical activity has been established to a lesser degree. What has some potential to undermine even these gains is the increasingly recognized relationship between sedentary behaviour and poor health. It now seems likely that sedentary behaviour can have a negative impact on an individual's health, over and above that of meeting the recommendations of moderate-vigorous physical activity. Individuals must consider both increasing their level of moderate-vigorous physical activity and minimizing their level of sedentary behaviour during all aspects of daily life.

Information

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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