Measuring Physical Activity in Outdoor Community Recreational Environments: Implications for Research, Policy, and Pract
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CARDIOVASCULAR RISK HEALTH POLICY (W ROSAMOND, SECTION EDITOR)
Measuring Physical Activity in Outdoor Community Recreational Environments: Implications for Research, Policy, and Practice Semra A. Aytur & Sydney A. Jones & Michelle Stransky & Kelly R. Evenson
Published online: 27 November 2014 # Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014
Abstract Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) are major contributors to escalating health care costs in the USA. Physical activity is an important protective factor against CVD, and the National Prevention Strategy recognizes active living (defined as a way of life that integrates physical activity into everyday routines) as a priority for improving the nation’s health. This paper focuses on developing more inclusive measures of physical activity in outdoor community recreational environments, specifically parks and trails, to enhance their usability for at-risk populations such as persons with mobility limitations. We develop an integrated conceptual framework for measuring physical activity in outdoor community recreational environments, describe examples of evidence-based tools for measuring physical activity in these settings, and discuss strategies to improve measurement of physical activity for persons with mobility limitations. Addressing these measurement issues is critically important This article is part of the Topical Collection on Cardiovascular Risk Health Policy S. A. Aytur (*) University of New Hampshire, 4 Library Way Hewitt Hall 335, Durham, NH 03824, USA e-mail: [email protected] S. A. Jones : K. R. Evenson Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of NC—Chapel Hill, 137 East Franklin Street, Suite 306, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA S. A. Jones e-mail: [email protected] K. R. Evenson e-mail: [email protected] M. Stransky UNH Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, 10 West Edge Drive, Suite 101, Durham, NH 03824, USA e-mail: [email protected]
to making progress towards national CVD goals pertaining to active community environments. Keywords Parks . Trails . GIS . Measurement . Mobility limitations . Disability . Physical activity . Active living
Introduction Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) are major contributors to escalating health care costs, which the Congressional Budget Office projects will be the primary driver of the national debt over the coming decades [1]. Physical activity is an important protective factor against heart disease and stroke, which are the first and fourth leading causes of adult death in the USA [2]. The National Prevention Strategy [3] recognizes active living (a way of life that integrates physical activity into everyday routines) as a priority area for improving the nation’s health and emphasizes safe and healthy community environments, along with clinical and community preventive services, empowered people, and elimination of health disparities, as a key strategic direction to guide actions that will demonstrably improve health. Studies have
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