RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Studies indicate that the incidence of disease, the mortality rate, and medical costs are significantly higher in people aged 65 years and over who do not engage in physical activities than in their peers who do engage in these activities. Therefore, promoting appropriate physical activity among older adults in the community is essential to delaying the health implications of aging. PURPOSE: This pilot test was developed to assess the effectiveness of a newly developed Senior Elastic Band (SEB) exercise program on the health of older adults in community care stations. METHODS: A quasiexperimental design was used. A convenience sample of 20 participants from a community care station was recruited. The SEB intervention included three phases (warm-up, aerobic motion, and static stretching) and was conducted three times per week, 40 minutes per session for 1 month. Twelve health indicators in three categories (functional fitness, self-perceived health status, and sleep quality) were examined before and immediately after 1 month of SEB exercises. RESULTS: Participants showed improved performance at the end of the 1-month study for the following indicators: lung capacity, cardiopulmonary fitness, upper and lower body flexibilities, upper limb muscle power, lower limb muscle endurance, and self-perceived physical health status (all ps < .05). No significant differences were identified for the other indicators. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The SEB exercise program shows preliminary and promising effects on improving the health of older adults in a community care station. Healthcare professionals who work with older adults living in the community may consider the SEB exercise program as a health promotion modality to recommend and implement with this population. However, we recommend further testing the long-term effects of this program on a larger population.
Asunto(s)
Ejercicio Físico , Promoción de la Salud/métodos , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Femenino , Estado de Salud , Humanos , Masculino , Proyectos Piloto , TaiwánRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a tailored elastic band exercise program for aged adults (persons 65 years and older), to evaluate the feasibility of a program, and to determine appropriate elastic band exercise frequencies and preferences of aged adults. METHODS: This study had 2 phases. In phase I, 11 professional experts were consulted to develop the Senior Elastic Band (SEB) exercise program. They responded to detailed description and demonstrations of the program contained on either a hard copy or a DVD. In phase II, 20 participants 65 years or older were interviewed for their feedback on the SEB after participating in 1 month of instructor-led SEB group practice. Both quantitative and qualitative strategies were included in the subject evaluation. The quantitative evaluation results were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean and SD. The qualitative revision suggestions were critically analyzed and summarized using content analysis to revise the program. RESULTS: Both the experts in phase I and the senior participants in phase II rated the SEB highly and commented that the program was feasible, safe, suitable, and helpful. The participants further suggested practicing SEB 3 times per week for 60 minutes per session in a group of 20 to 29 people. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the feedback from the expert panel, the final SEB included 3 phases with 20 movements. The program took 40 minutes to complete. The SEB program was supported by the 11 experts with 5 professional backgrounds and was well accepted by a small group of community seniors. The participants expressed that the program was feasible, was manageable, and could be helpful to their health promotion.
Asunto(s)
Elasticidad , Terapia por Ejercicio/métodos , Ejercicio Físico , Contracción Muscular/fisiología , Músculo Esquelético/fisiología , Anciano , Estudios de Factibilidad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Satisfacción del Paciente , Entrenamiento de Fuerza/métodos , Estrés MecánicoRESUMEN
This study appraised the feasibility of an elastic band exercise program for older adults in wheelchairs. A descriptive program review survey was used. A wheelchair-bound senior elastic band (WSEB) exercise program tailored to older adults in wheelchairs was initially developed by a group of 12 experts. A feasibility appraisal survey was administered to 10 older adults in wheelchairs through individual interviews after 4 weeks of the WSEB program. Study participants revealed that the WSEB program was feasible, safe, appropriate, and helpful to them. Participants further suggested practicing the WSEB program 3 times/week for 40 min/session in a group of 15-20 people. The finalized WSEB program has 2 levels: the basic and the advanced WSEB program. It is suggested that the basic level to be taught first with practice until participants are familiar with those exercises before proceeding to the advanced level.
Asunto(s)
Ejercicio Físico , Silla de Ruedas , Anciano , Estudios de Factibilidad , Humanos , TaiwánRESUMEN
This study aimed to pilot-test the health promotion effects of a silver yoga exercise program for female seniors. Using a one-group, pre-post test design, a convenience sample of 16 community-dwelling female seniors was recruited. The silver yoga exercise intervention was administered three times a week, 70 minutes per session, for four weeks. Data were collected at baseline and after completion of the four-week intervention. Results indicated that participants' body fat percentage and systolic blood pressure decreased, balance and range of motion on shoulder flexion and abduction improved, and sleep disturbance was minimized (all p < .05). Preliminary evidence supports that the silver yoga exercise program provides positive effects on the promotion of good health in female seniors living in the communities.
Asunto(s)
Yoga , Anciano , Composición Corporal , Terapias Complementarias , Depresión/terapia , Femenino , Promoción de la Salud , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Aptitud Física , Proyectos Piloto , Rango del Movimiento ArticularRESUMEN
AIM: This study reports the development and evaluation of a new yoga exercise programme for older adults, called the Silver Yoga Programme. BACKGROUND: Yoga practice is associated with numerous health improvements, including reduced cardiovascular risk, body mass index and blood pressure. Yoga is also associated with improved respiration, psychological health and pain management. Studies have suggested the beneficial effects of yoga in the older population. METHOD: The study was conducted in 2005 and it had two phases. Phase I consisted of sending a survey to 10 experts to help develop the Silver Yoga Programme. A hard copy and a video containing detailed descriptions and demonstrations of the programme were then sent to the experts for review and critique regarding the clarity and feasibility of the yoga postures. Phase II was an enquiry into older adults' views on the programme using a quantitative evaluation and semi-structured qualitative inquiry. Fourteen women participants from a senior activity centre were interviewed individually after 1 month of Silver Yoga group practice, three times per week, 70 minutes per session. They were asked to evaluate the appropriateness of postures based on the criteria of difficulty, acceptability, feasibility and helpfulness. Five open-ended questions asked participants to reflect on their yoga experiences. RESULTS: Participants' mean ratings of the acceptability, feasibility and helpfulness of the four aspects of the programme (warm-up, Hatha yoga, relaxation and guided-imagery meditation) ranged from 8.8 +/- 1.9 to 9.3 +/- 1.5; mean ratings of the difficulty of the programme revealed that relaxation and guided-imagery meditation were fairly easy to follow (0.1 +/- 0.3 and 0.1 +/- 0.3 respectively), but the postures in the Hatha yoga were relatively challenging (2.1 +/- 2.6). CONCLUSION: The Silver Yoga Programme should undergo further pilot-testing with larger samples of older adults before it is taken up internationally as a health-promotion activity for older adults.