One Hour a Week of Physical Activity Can Hold Off Disability, Study Says

A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine sought to ascertain whether a minimum amount of physical activity could lead to health benefits in older adults, reports USA Today . All study participants had pain from osteoarthritis in lower-extremity joints, but were not disabled. Using accelerometers to monitor participants, the researchers determined older adults who completed 60 minutes a week of moderate activity had an 85 percent reduced risk of a mobility disability. Adults also cut their risk of movement disability affecting daily routines such as getting dressed or walking across a room. Less than 10 minutes a day of moderate physical activity was sufficient to help older men and women avoid limitations to their movement. "The more active you are, the more health benefits you get," said Northwestern University Professor Dorothy Dunlop.