Research
Adherence
Patient populations (e.g., cardiac, arthritis, diabetic) respond significantly better to physical activity interventions than non-patient (healthy) populations.
If you are managing a health condition like arthritis, heart disease, or diabetes, you may find it easier to adopt an exercise routine than if you are currently healthy. Use this 'teachable moment' to engage with structured, moderate-intensity group programs that include self-monitoring.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
Studies with patient samples reported significantly larger effect sizes (dwc = .39 ± .12, k = 18) than studies with nonpatient samples (dwc = .26 ± .10, k = 25).
Why this rating
Statistically significant difference between subgroups (p < .05).
Source
Interventions to increase physical activity among aging adults: A meta-analysis
Vicki S. Conn et al. · Annals of Behavioral Medicine · 2002
DOI 10.1207/s15324796abm2403_04
Meta-analysis · 43 studiesCited 240×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
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