Quality Of Life, Health And Well Being Of Highly Active Individuals Louisa Raisbeck, Jeanne Johnston, Joel Stager, Francoise Benay

Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University1025 E. 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA

Abstract: Overall physical function is known to decline with age. Recent reports suggest, however, that maintaining an active lifestyle may result in better health status, improved quality of life (QOL), and a higher level of physical functioning throughout the aging process. There is currently little data available on the most active individuals within the aging population that might further support this notion. Purpose: To determine the impact of a lifetime of physical activity on QOL, health and well being within members of the United States Master Swimmer (USMS) population. Methods: 323 subjects aged between 21 and 88 years (47 years +/- 13.6), including 198 females (45.3 years +/- 13.6) and 125 males (51.3 years +/- 12.5), completed a previously validated questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed swim history, routine swim training, general patterns of physical activity, and QOL (Medical Outcomes Study 36-item, SF-36). Results: Swim participation was reported as 18.1 +/- 11.9 years, with 89.5% reporting year round swimming. Overall, 49.8% reported competing at a national level with 40.5% ranked in the top 10 for an event in 2003. Significant differences were observed between males and females for age, average yards and days swum each week (p<0.05). Daily distance declined with age and yet the regularity of swimming increased. The USMS population averaged 4.7 (+/- 4.4) hours moderate and 7.1 (+/- 5.5) hours of vigorous activity per week. Both males and females had significantly higher scores across all dimensions of QOL when compared to the general population with the exception of Role – Physical (females). In addition, males and females had significantly higher scores for overall physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) health (p<0.05) when compared to the general population. Scores for overall physical and mental health (PCS and MCS) were not significantly different between males and females within the USMS population (P < 0.05). Conclusion: ACSM and the CDC recommend 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity most days of the week for healthy adult populations (CDC, 1995). Our results reveal that the USMS population is participating above and beyond these recommendations and that this may be an important factor in the greater overall health status and QOL that these individuals enjoy. Supported by the AAU/BELL-UPDYKE-WILLETT Kinesiology Research Award and the Counsilman Center for Swimming Research, Indiana University.

INTRODUCTION Overall physiological function is known to decline with age. Recent reports suggest, however,

that maintaining an active lifestyle may result in better health status, improved quality of life (QOL), and a higher level of physical functioning throughout the aging process.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to confirm that masters swimmers are more active than the general

population and regular exercise can be shown to have positive impact on quality of life, health and well being.

METHODOLOGY

Figure 1 and 2 show the age distribution of subject populations (USMS males and females)

323 subjects aged between 21 and 88 years (47 years +/- 13.6) participated in this study 198 females (45.3 years +/- 13.6); 125 males (51.3 years +/- 12.5), completed a previously

validated questionnaire. 93.4 % of the subjects were predominantly Caucasian-non Hispanic. 43.2% of all subjects had

completed post graduate work 62% generated a household income of >$75,000

Change in Physical Health Summary Score Across Age Groups

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USMS population have significantly higher overall scores in both the PCS and MCS (p<.05) when compared to the general population.

Significant differences were observed in MCS (p<0.01) when comparing the USMS population to the general population across age categories.

Figure 5 and 6 shows changes in physical (PH) and mental (MH) health scores across age groups for USMS and the General population.

The slope of the line of change for physical and mental health scores is significantly different (p < 0.01) for the master swimmers and general population.

The master swimmers demonstrate a linear increase in mental health (R2 = .0.96) whereas the general population change is non-linear in nature (R2 = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSMasters swimmers are more physically active than the general population. This activity appears to be consistent across age groups with a significant decline until after age 65. We suggest that the better (higher) scores on the instruments used to assess Quality of Life obtained from the swimmers is due to a higher level of activity

ACSM and the CDC recommend 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity most days of the week for healthy adult populations (CDC, 1995). Our results reveal that the USMS population is participating above and beyond these recommendations and that this may be an important factor in the greater overall health status and QOL that these individuals enjoy.

Instruments Used

Questionnaire that assessed

Swim History Swim Training Physical Activity Patterns Quality Of Life

(Medical Outcomes Study SF-36)

RESULTSPHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Significant differences were observed for females between the 18-34 age category and the 55-64 age category for the average days swum each week (p<0.05). Significant differences were observed for males between the 18-34 age category, 35- 44 age category and the 55-64 age category against the 65+ age category for average yards swum each week (p<0.05).

Table 1 – Age group comparisons for average yards swum each week

Figure 3 shows that the mean hours of participation by USMS in both moderate and vigorous exercise exceeds recommendations set by the ASCM, CDC and Healthy People 2010.

HEALTH RELATED VARIABLESPercent of USMS that reported the having following health conditions

Diabetes 1.2%Coronary artery disease 1.2%Abnormal heartbeat 9.5%Cancer 8.6%

QUALITY OF LIFEUSMS population have significantly higher overall scores in all aspects of the measured quality of life (p<.05) when compared to the general population

Figure 4 Comparison of the components of health and well being between USMS members and the general population

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Mean = 51.2891Std. Dev. = 12.40406

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Mean = 45.4146Std. Dev. = 13.79289N = 205

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Change in Mental Health Summary Score Across Age Groups

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