| Summary: | Includes abstract. === Includes bibliographical references. === Mature adults are at risk of an accelerated age-related reduction in physical function. Declines in aerobic power, functional strength, motor abilities, flexibility and health-related quality of life are thought to be primarily due to reduced physical activity levels with increasing age. Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) has been extensively investigated and is widely advocated for the preservation of function with ageing. However there is a lack of evidence regarding the relationship between LTPA and the individual components of health-related fitness, particularly motor abilities. It is therefore unclear what types of LTPA (endurance, neuromuscular LTPA or games) should be prescribed by health professionals for the development of health-related fitness parameters. Aim: To examine the relationship between LTPA and components of health-related fitness in healthy mature adults. Specific Objectives: (a) To describe the preferred mode(s) and weekly duration of recent LTPA in currently active male and female participants. (b) To describe the preferred mode(s) and years of participation in long term LTPA, in currently active and inactive male and female participants. (c) To determine if there were significant differences in anthropometry and selected health-related fitness components, in currently active and inactive male and female participants. (d) To determine the relationships between recent participation in different types of LTPA (endurance, neuromuscular or games) and total weekly duration of LTPA; and anthropometry and selected components of health related fitness in currently active male and female participants. (e) To determine the relationships between former participation in different types of LTPA (endurance, neuromuscular or games) and years of LTPA participation; and anthropometry and selected components of health-related fitness in currently active and inactive male and female participants. Methods: This study had a descriptive, correlational design. Healthy adults aged between 40 and 60 who either participated in regular LTPA or no LTPA, were recruited for the study. Participants were excluded if they had any acute or chronic injuries; or used any medication that altered heart rate or physical function. Fifty six healthy mature adults between the ages of 40 and 58 years participated in this study. Twenty nine had participated in at least 30 minutes of LTPA, three times per week in the last three months (active group); and twenty seven had not participated in LTPA in the last three months (inactive group). Data were collected in two sessions. In session one, participants gave written informed consent; completed a physical activity readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q) to screen for safe exercise participation; and completed health-related quality of life and LTPA questionnaires. Body composition measurements were also performed. In session two, participants completed a battery of physical tests conducted by a blinded assessor, including: cardiorespiratory fitness (2 km walk test); static and dynamic balance (standing on one leg, tandem walking backwards); agility (Illinois agility test); co-ordination (timed bouncing of a ball along a wall from a fixed distance); upper limb function (modified push-up test); lower limb function (vertical jump test); back muscle endurance (static back extension test); and flexibility (sit-and-reach test).Results: Recently active participants had significantly reduced body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.04), body fat percentage (p = 0.003) and sum of seven skinfold (p = 0.004) measurements, compared to inactive participants. In addition, active participants scored significantly better in the tests for cardiorespiratory fitness (p = 0.0004) and upper limb function (p = 0.01) than inactive participants. Active females had significantly improved cardiorespiratory fitness (p = 0.0002) and agility (p = 0.0004) compared to inactive females. Of the health-related fitness components, only cardiorespiratory fitness and back muscle endurance were related to recent LTPA participation. Motor abilities such as agility and dynamic balance, upper- and lower limb function were associated with long term rather than recent LTPA, particularly with long term endurance, games and years of long term LTPA participation. Discussion and conclusion: Active participants had significantly improved body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and upper limb function compared to inactive participants in this study. These results support previous research suggesting that regular participation in LTPA may help to slow the age-associated decline in physical function. However no significant differences were found in motor abilities between recently active and inactive participants, and no significant relationships were found between recent LTPA participation and motor abilities. Based on the findings in this study, long term LTPA and participation in games are advised for the development of motor abilities and functional strength, in healthy mature adults. As this study sample reported mainly endurance LTPA recently and on the long term, future research should aim to explore the independent contributions of different types of LTPA (endurance, neuromuscular or games) on aspects of health related fitness. Such information may be very useful clinically to improve the accuracy of exercise prescription. There is also a need to further evaluate the relationship between long-term LTPA and health-related fitness in a larger sample of mature adults.
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