Abstract

“Physical activity” (PA) and “exercise” are often used interchangeably, but may refer to different concepts. PA typically refers to all types of activities in which body movement and muscle contraction are required, including most activities of daily living (ADLs) such as household chores and PA in the workplace. In contrast, exercise activity generally refers to planned and structured activities undertaken with the purpose of improving components of physical fitness such as muscular strength, flexibility, or physical endurance. The literature on PA and quality of life (QOL) in cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases includes studies of both daily PA as well as intervention studies evaluating the effects of exercise on QOL. Studies of both types of PA were included in this selective review with the goal of identifying the best data available for understanding the relationship between PA and QOL.