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Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in a residential aged care facility
Author(s) -
Parry Sharon,
Chow Marilyn,
Batchelor Frances,
Fary Robyn E
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/ajag.12589
Subject(s) - physical activity , sedentary behavior , aged care , gerontology , intensity (physics) , medicine , activity monitor , physical therapy , psychology , physics , quantum mechanics
Objective To evaluate sedentary behaviour and physical activity levels in independently mobile older adults with and without dementia living in residential aged care. Methods Sedentary behaviour and physical activity were measured in 37 residents of an aged care facility using an accelerometer worn during waking hours for five days. Results Participants with valid accelerometer data ( n = 28) spent 85% of the time sedentary, and 12% in low‐intensity, 2% in light‐intensity and 1% in moderate‐to‐vigorous‐intensity physical activity. Over half of sedentary time was accumulated in bouts of greater than 30 minutes. Physical activity at any level of intensity was performed in bouts of less than 10 minutes. Conclusion Residents were highly sedentary and inactive. In particular, the short duration of each bout of activity amongst lengthy periods of sedentary behaviour was a substantial finding. The study suggests the need to develop innovative ways of breaking up sedentary behaviour in residential aged care.