Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of structured physical activity on respiratory outcomes in community-dwelling elderly adults with mobility limitations. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized trial of physical activity vs health education, with respiratory variables prespecified as tertiary outcomes over an intervention period of 24-42 months. Physical activity included walking (goal of 150 min/week) and strength, flexibility, and balance training. Health education included workshops on topics relevant to older adults and upper extremity stretching exercises. SETTING: Lifestyle Interventions and Independence in Elders (LIFE) Study. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling persons aged 70-89 with Short Physical Performance Battery scores less than 10 (N = 1,635). MEASUREMENTS: Dyspnea severity (defined as moderate to severe according to a Borg index >2 immediately after a 400-m walk), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (