United States of America - Physical
Activity and Aging Initiatives:
Numerous governmental and non-governmental
organizations are involved in the implementation of initiatives for the
promotion of active ageing at the national, regional, and local level.
It would be beyond the scope of this report to provide even a comprehensive
listing of the organizations involved. Instead a representative sample
of initiatives at each level are listed below. Whenever possible, an internet
www address is included to assist readers in obtaining more detailed and
up-to-date information:
1a. National Initiatives: (Governmental)
National Coalition for the Promotion
of Physical Activity (1998):
This is a group of more than 70 professional,
medical, and scientific organizations which have agreed to sign a common
statement about the need to promote physical activity throughout the population.
More information about this initiative is available at the following address.
http://www.ncppa.org/ncprior.htm
United States Surgeon General's
Report on Physical Activity and Health (1996):
In 1996 the Office of the United States
Surgeon General issued an influential report on Physical Activity and Health.
Although the report does not focus on exclusively active ageing, older
adults are identified as a key focus group and the report has been influential
in guiding policy at national, regional, and local levels. An executive
summary of the report is available on the WWW at the following address.
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/sgr.htm
Healthy People 2000 and Healthy
People 2010:
This important government report sponsored
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a listing of
US National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives.
Information about the original report
Healthy People 2000 can be found at the following address.
http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/hp2000/
Information about Healthy People 2010
is at the following address;
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/
National Institute on Aging:
The National Institute on Aging has
recently written a book about physical activity which is designed to be
used for information purposes by the general public. The book is entitled
"Exercise: A Guide From the National Institute on Aging"
and is available on-line at the following www address
http://weboflife.ksc.nasa.gov/exerciseandaging
The NIA has other materials about physical
activity and health for older persons at the following address;
http://www.nih.gov/nia/health/health.htm
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration
The NASA Life Sciences Division accomplishes
research and technology engineering of relevance to the study of aging
and collaborates in these endeavors with the National Institutes of Health,
including the National Institute on Aging. The Outreach program of the
Life Sciences Division can be contracted through the website. It operates
a variety of programs and projects that support information exchange and
encourage participation in the Division's activities by the public, educators,
and students
http://weboflife.ksc.nasa.gov
National Heart, Lung and Blood
Institute
One of the National Institutes of Health.
Offers free publications, on exercise, diet, and cholesterol
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm
National Institute of Arthritis
and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
One of the National Institutes of Health.
Provides free information about exercise and arthritis; large print available
on request.
http://www.nih.gov/niams/healthinfo/
1b. National Initiatives: (Non-
Governmental Organizations)
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Professional association of surgeons
who care for the body's musculoskeletal system. Provides free publications
about how to safely do exercises like walking or stretching for arthritis,
osteoporosis, or other musculoskeletal conditions, or following joint replacement.
http://www.aaos.org
American College of Sports Medicine
Scientific and medical association
of sports physicians, exercise scientists, and other health professionals
with an interest in exercise. Trains and certifies professionals to work
with older adults.
http://www.acsm.org
American Diabetes Association
Disseminates information about exercise
for people of all ages who have diabetes.
http://www.diabetes.org
American Heart Association
Disseminates information about and
funds exercise studies for people of all ages.
http://www.Americanheart.org
Arthritis Foundation
Offers extensive nationwide physical
activity programs for persons with arthritis
http://www.arthritis.org
Disabled Sports USA
Disseminates information and coordinates
programming for older adults and others with disabilities
http://www.dsusa.org/
National Osteoporosis Foundation
NGO that promotes study and treatment
of osteoporosis. Disseminates information on "The Role of Exercise
in the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis," Guidelines for Safe Movement,"
and "Fall Prevention."
http://www.nof.org/
Other Groups
Many other professional organizations
and groups have developed initiatives in the area of Physical Activity
and Health. A good way to access this information is through a database
of professional organizations which is maintained on the internet by the
publishing company Human Kinetics.
http://www.humankinetics.com/
2a. Regional Initiatives: (Governmental)
National Association of Governor's
Councils on Physical Fitness
Sponsors physical-fitness events for
older adults; these events vary by state.
http://www.physicalfitness.org/
Area Agencies on Ageing:
State agencies responsible for coordination
and provision of services to older persons.
http://ohioaging.org/
2b. Regional Initiatives: (Non
Governmental Organizations)
Many of the national NGO's listed above
maintain State and or Regional chapters which assist in the provision of
services at a regional and local level. To avoid duplication regional chapters
are not listed below. Rather two regional NGO groups offering services
for older persons are selected as examples of many similar organizations.
The Cooper Institute for Aerobics
Research
Provides information about physical
activity and other health topics in the Dallas, Texas area.
http://www.cooperinst.org
50-Plus Fitness Association
Nonprofit organization that promotes
fitness and active lifestyles for people 50 and older through a variety
of activities, including walks, fitness events, seminars, and newsletters.
Membership costs $35.00 a year (people of any age may join). Provides information
for people interested in starting a 50-Plus chapter in their locale.
http://www.50plus.org
3a. Local Initiatives: (Governmental)
Many municipalities offer healthy city
or other activity programs which include a focus on active ageing. Information
about Healthy Cities in the USA can be obtained from the following site.
http://www.who.dk/healthy-cities/welcome.htm
3b. Local Initiatives: (Non
Governmental Organizations)
Many universities, churches, charities,
and other NGO's maintain local physical activity programs for older persons.
A fairly typical program would be the Center for Physical Activity and
Aging at Wichita State University.
http://www.twsu.edu/~cpaa/index.html
