ABSTRACT
We used a randomized controlled trial and examined the effectiveness of a 3-month, home based, exercise program to the functioning in older Japanese adults. Following the intervention, we also conducted 3- and 6-month follow-up studies of physical functioning and exercise adherence. Participants were older adults (n = 32, 16 males and 16 females, age over 75 years). They were randomly divided into exercise and control groups. The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competences, the Mini-Mental State Examinations, as well as physical fitness tests assessing grip strength, maximum step length, 10 m walking speed, and standing on one leg with eyes open were administered to the participants. Moreover, home visit instructions were given biweekly. Participants worked out at home on 3 days a week. Analyses of variance indicated that the intervention group significantly increased their maximum step length and time standing on one leg with eyes open, although there were no significant changes in the other tests. Result of follow-up investigations indicated that maximum step lengths at 3- and 6-months after the intervention were 69.9 and 68.8 cm respectively, which was less than immediately after the intervention (70.6 cm), but significantly higher than before the intervention (65.8 cm). Moreover, the effect of the intervention on standing on one leg with eyes open was maintained at the 6-month follow-up. Furthermore, percentages of participants that exercised more than one day per week 3- and 6 months after the intervention were 87 % and 81 % respectively, which was significantly higher than before the intervention (44 %). These results suggest that the home-based exercise program was effective in promoting adherence for a period of 6-months.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an exercise intervention for older married couples on exercise adherence and physical fitness. Thirty-six older married couples and 61 older adults participated in the study as couple and non-couple groups (CG, NCG, respectively). Participants attended an exercise class once a week and performed a home-based exercise program consisting of walking and strength exercise over eight weeks. Exercise adherence was assessed by the rate of non-absentee, walking habits (≥ 2 times/week), and strength exercise habits (≥ 6 items*2 sets/week). Physical fitness was assessed by the Senior Fitness Tests. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to obtain the CG’s odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for non-absentee, walking habits, and strength exercise habits (reference: NCG). Analyses of covariance were used to examine the statistical difference in the degree of change (⊿) for physical fitness between CG and NCG. CG had significantly higher ORs for non-absentee and walking habits compared with NCG but there was no significant difference in the rate of strength exercise habits between the two groups. In regards to ⊿ for physical fitness, significantly higher ⊿ for upper extremity strength was observed in CG than in NCG, while there were no significant differences in ⊿ for other physical fitness items between the two groups. These results suggest that an exercise intervention for older married couples would be more useful to maintain higher participation in exercise program and walking and improving upper extremity strength.
ABSTRACT
Objective To analyse the adherence of community-dwelling stroke survivors to functional exercise regimens and explore the influencing factors.Then to establish measures to improve the situation.Methods A total of 208 stroke survivors from 10 communities were randomly recruited.Four questionnaires-a general information questionnaire,an exercise adherence questionnaire,a self-efficacy perceptions scale and a perceived social support scale-were administered.Results The mean adherence score was 34.71 ± 8.45 and the mean adherence rate was 61.98％.The compliance to physical exercise,seeking advice positively and exercise effectiveness monitoring scores ranged from highest to lowest in order.Self-efficacy perceptions and perceived social support were both positively correlated with the adherence rate.Multiple linear regression showed that the influencing factors included self efficacy perceptions,social support perceptions,self-care ability and age.Conclusions The community stroke survivors' exercise adherence was moderate in general,but it could be improved by increasing their self-efficacy and social support perceptions and their self-care ability.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study were to examine the relationships between functional fitness, self-esteem, aesthetic body care and long-term adherence to dance, and to identify other characteristics related to dance adherence in the elderly. METHODS: Seventeen women, aged 59-86 years-old, who practised a type of dance labeled "bodily expression". RESULTS: Functional fitness was correlated to dance adherence and was the only factor related to this variable in a linear regression analysis. Self-esteem and aesthetic body care seemed to play an indirect role on adherence. Functional fitness, specially upper-body flexibility and lower-body muscular function, and interest in dance (qualitative data) were related to long-term adherence to dance. CONCLUSIONS: Functional fitness and interest in exercising were the main aspects related to participants' long-term adherence to dance.
OBJETIVO: Examinar a relação entre adesão a longo prazo à prática da dança e capacidade física functional, autoestima e atenção dada à estética corporal, e identificar outros aspectos relacionados à adesão deste exercício em indivíduos idosos. MÉTODOS: 17 mulheres, de 59 a 86 anos, que praticavam um tipo de dança rotulada "expressão corporal". RESULTADOS: A capacidade física functional se correlacionou à adesão à prática de dança, e foi o único fator relacionado a esta variável na regressão linear realizada. A autoestima e a atenção dada à estética corporal parecem desempenhar um papel indireto sobre a adesão. O "interesse em praticar a dança" também se relacionou com a adesão. CONCLUSÃO: Capacidade física functional e "interesse em praticar a dança" foram os principais aspectos relacionados à adesão a longo prazo da dança.
OBJETIVO: Examinar la relación entre adhesión a largo plazo de la danza y capacidad física funcional, auto-estima y atención dada a la estética corporal, e identificar otros aspectos relacionados a la adhesión de este ejercicio en individuos mayores. METODOLOGÍA: 17 mujeres, de 59 a 86 años, que praticavan una danza llamada "expresión corporal". RESULTADOS: La capacidad física funcional fuera correlacionada a la adhesión a la práctica de danza, y fuera el único factor relacionado a esta variable en la regresión linear realizada. La auto-estima y la atención dada a la estética corporal parecen desempeñar un papel indirecto sobre la adhesión. El "interés en practicar la danza" también se relacionó con la adhesión. CONCLUSIÓN: Capacidad física funcional e "interés en practicar la danza " fueran los principales aspectos relacionados a la adhesión a largo plazo de la danza.
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Background: High heart rate (HR) has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality due to all causes. The present study was conducted to examine the effect of exercise adherence on longitudinal changes in resting heart rate among a population of community-dwelling elderly.Methods: The subjects were 133 men and 209 women aged 65 and older who participated in a baseline survey in August 1992 and were subsequently followed annually for 8 years. Resting HR was measured in the sitting position. The independent variable was the longitudinal change in differences of HR (Δ) from 1996 to 2000. Dependent variables were age, heart rate, smoking habit, TMIG index of competence score, and states of exercise adherence during the period 1992-1996.Results: Multiple regression analysis showed that heart rate in 1996 and smoking in men, and heart rate, TMIG index of competence score, and exercise adherence during the period 1992-1996 in women were significantly associated with longitudinal change in HR.Conclusion: Exercise adherence reduced the increase in HR of elderly women. These results suggest the importance of exercise adherence in elderly women.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between subjective usefulness of pedometer and step count, exercise adherence, and the possibility of a pedometer helping exercise adherence.<BR>The subjects were 106 community-dwelling citizens (mean age±SD, 66±5) who were put on an individual exercise program in addition to walking. The targeted step count was 8000 steps/day. Every subject wore a pedometer that registers 7 days of physical activity.<BR>The rate of adherence was 98.1%, and about 73% of subjects answered that using a pedometer is useful for physical activity. There was no difference in exercise habit at baseline between subjects answering useful or not useful.<BR>Only in the case of females, was step count and prevalence of targeted 8000 steps significantly higher in the group who felt a pedometer was useful than in the group who didn't feel it useful. However, in the group of males who felt the usefulness of a pedometer, step count significantly increased during the 3 months. In addition, the females who reached their targeted step count performed better in the 10 m hurdle walk and 6 min walk than those who could not reach the targeted step count.<BR>The awareness of self-health wellness, without the anxiety of physical fitness and adherence to exercise was higher in the subjects who felt a pedometer was useful than in the subjects who didn't.<BR>The subjects who felt a pedometer was useful achieved their targeted number of steps and increased walking ability and tended to adhere better to physical activity.<BR>It is suggested that a pedometer motivates adherence to physical activity and is useful for helping exercise adherence in the future. However, we need a randomized control trial for determining the relationship between exercise adherence and using a pedometer.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research was to study the effects of exercise program participation on the personal factors of exercise adherence promotion in the middle-aged and elderly by comparing a group and individual exercise program. The personal factors for promoting exercise adherence, the four domains (i, e. initiative attitude, achievement satisfaction, self-recognition, and intrinsic motivation), were hypothesized. Two groups of middle-aged and elderly subjects, who volunteered to participate in different 6-month exercise programs, were examined. Group 1, 33 subjects (aged 67.7 ±4.3 years : mean±SD), participated in a program consisting of an individual exercise program (combination of endurance and resistance exercise, e. g. cycling exercise, dumbbell and machine exercise, once a week) and group exercise program (e, g. dance and ball game, once a week) . Group 2, 27 subjects (aged 65.2±4.Ovears), participated in the same individual exercise program twice a week. After the 6-month exercise program, significant improvements in group 1 were found in the selfassessment of activity score of the initiative attitude domain, the achievement satisfaction score including enjoyment, achievement and satisfaction, and the self-recognition score representing competence. In group 2, the mastery score in the intrinsic motivation domain was reduced, and the curiosity score in the same domain and the achievement score in the achievement satisfaction domain tended to decrease. These results show that a group program might have a more significant effect on the personal factors hypothesized to promote exercise adherence in this study. Hut there should be follow-up study on the subjects to determine the effectiveness of the program over the long term.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of class walking on lifestyle activity. The subjects were recruited from the community around the university, and volunteered to eight weeks intervention. The intervention groups were 2 different walking program groups that included a class-walking group (A : n=32) and a voluntary walking group (B : n=31) ; and the control was a blood-pressure monitor group (C : n=22) . Only A group participated in a walking class with group instruction. Physical activity was measured by pedometer counts before the start of the intervention, during the 8-week intervention and again as follow up four months afterwards. In A group, the number of pedometer counts, during the group walking activity of the 5 th and 6 th weeks, was measured in order to evaluate the number of voluntary steps on the class-walking day. Although there was no significant difference among the three groups in daily activity before the intervention, the activity of A group (12367±3290) and B group (9988±3461) was significantly increased during the intervention. Also, there were significant differences between A and B, A and C. As for A group, the number of steps due to group walking (9025±584 steps) enhanced the daily activity on the class-walking days (16191±3988 steps), but significantly attenuated the voluntary steps on the class-walking days (7166±3988 steps), which did not significantly differ from the baseline of the daily activity. The number of steps on the non-class walking days (i. e. steps other than those taken on the class-walking day ; 11719±3454 steps) was not significantly different than that of B. There was significant enhancement of daily activity 4 months after the intervention for A (11487±4057) and B (9564±2545 steps), but not for C (9070±3485 steps), compared to the baseline. There was not a significant difference between the daily activity of A and B after the intervention. These data suggest that the instruction given and the steps taken in class walking enhance daily activity during the intervention period, and that voluntary steps play a more important role in whether or not one remains active and adheres to regular exercise.