Effects of Physical Activity on Functional Health of Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Michael Huen Sum LAM¹, Yang Lei², Roberta Kwan Sum HO³, Bryan Chun Man CHEUNG³, Doris Shuk Ting LO⁴, Lily Hongli SUN⁴, Cherrie Chung Yan LAI⁴, Winnie Ka Man TAM⁵, Stella Sin Tung KWOK⁶, Stuart W Flint⁷, Rebecca Peake⁸, Ka Yiu LEE^9*

¹Overall Programme Director, Collaborative Bachelor and Master Degree, Vocational Training Council (VTC), Hong Kong (HK)

²Institute of Physical Education, University of Jinan, Shandong, China

³Department of Hotel, Service and Tourism Studies, VTC, HK

⁴Programme Director of Collaborative Bachelor Degree, VTC, HK

⁵Department of Hotel, Service and Tourism Studies, VTC, HK

⁶Research Support Unit, VTC, HK

⁷Leeds Beckett University, England

⁸Academy of Sport and Physical Activity, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom

⁹Programme Director of Collaborative Bachelor Degree, VTC, Hong Kong

*Corresponding Author : Ka Yiu LEE
Programme Director of Collaborative Bachelor Degree, VTC, 3/F, Admin Block, VTC, Shing Tai Road Hong Kong
E-mail: kyle2015@vtc.edu.hk

Received: March 07, 2017 Accepted: April 11, 2017 Published: April 16, 2017

Citation: Michael Huen Sum LAM, Lam MHS, Lei Y, Roberta Kwan Sum HO, Cheung BCM, Doris Shuk Ting LO, et al. (2017) Effects of Physical Activity on Functional Health of Older Adults: A Systematic Review. J Athl Enhanc 6:3. doi: 10.4172/2324-9080.1000260

Reviews on the relationships between functional health and physical activity of general older adults have been well documented in literature. However, specific age range of older adults, in particular, older adults of 75 years or above, is currently under-examined. A systematic review was conducted to investigate the effects of physical activity on functional health older adults aged 75 years or above. The reviewed articles cover a variety range of functional health outcomes, including balance, muscle conditioning, joint range of motion, quadriceps strength, reaction time, gait speed, health-related quality of life, back and knee pain, muscle mass, and walking ability. In general, interventions of the reviewed articles had favorable effects on function health of older adults. While physical activity has been identified as an important determinant of functional health, the ways to engage in and accumulate sufficient daily physical activity warrant investigation. It is also important to explore interventions which enhance daily, self-driven physical activity of elderly, as normally supervised physical activity bears higher costs.