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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Health status of former elite athletes
— the Finnish experience | | Author(s) | S Sarna, J Kaprio, U M Kujala, M Koskenvuo |
| Journal title | Aging: Clinical and Experimental Research, vol 9, no 1/2, February/April 1997 |
| Pages | pp 35-41 |
| Keywords | Sport ; Keeping fit ; Older men ; Health [elderly] ; Life expectancy tables ; Social surveys ; Finland. |
| Annotation | Physical activity is an important aspect of health behaviour and life-style, when considering the possibilities to prevent premature deaths and sustain functional capacity. The findings are presented of a study of male athletes who represented Finland in international competitions between 1920 and 1965 in the following sports: track and field athletics, cross-country skiing, football, ice hockey, basketball, boxing, wresting, weightlifting, and shooting. In 1985, a questionnaire on physical activity, health and health habits was sent to surviving former athletes and referents (2,851 or 65.9% of the original cohort). Follow-up for morbidity and mortality was based on national medical records. The study found that former aerobic sports athletes (endurance and mixed sports) in particular have high total and active life expectancy and low risk for ischaemic heart disease and diabetes in later years. On the other hand, they have slightly higher risk for lower-limb osteoarthritis. Overall, the benefits of physically active life-style on health were clearly higher than the adverse effects. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-980423212 A |
| Classmark | HT: CE: BC: CC: S7: 3F: 76L |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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