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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Long-term effect of physical activity counseling on mobility limitation among older people: a randomized controlled study.

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Background. Physical activity counseling increases physical activity among older people, but its effectiveness on mobility, that is, maintaining the ability to move independently, is unknown. We studied the effect of physical activity counseling on mobility among older people and evaluated whether counseling-induced benefi ts persist after cessation of the intervention. Methods. In a 2-year, single-blinded, randomized controlled study, 632 sedentary participants aged 75 – 81 years were randomly assigned into the intervention ( n = 318) or control ( n = 314) group. The intervention group received a single individualized physical activity counseling session with a supportive telephone contact every 4 months for 2 years. The outcome measures — perceived diffi culty in advanced (walking 2 km) and basic (walking 0.5 km) mobility — were gathered semiannually during the intervention and the 1.5-year postintervention follow-up. Results. The proportion of participants with diffi culties in advanced mobility at the beginning and end of the intervention was 34% and 38%, respectively, in the intervention group. In the control group, the corresponding proportions were 32% and 45%. The treatment effect was signifi cant at the 2-year follow-up (odds ratio [OR] 0.84, 95% confi dence interval [CI]: 0.70 – 0.99; p = .04) and remained signifi cant 1.5 years postintervention (OR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68 – 0.99; p = .04). The effect on basic mobility postintervention was parallel but nonsignifi cant (OR 0.87, CI: 0.69 – 1.09; p = .22). Conclusions. Among older people, a single individualized physical activity counseling session with a supportive phone contact every 4 months for 2 years had a positive effect on mobility, an important factor for maintaining independence in the community in old age.