Structured Exercise Program is Feasible and Improves Functional Capacity among Older Adults in Puerto Rico
Physical inactivity is a major risk factor affecting overall health and functional capacity among older adults. In this study we evaluated functional capacity in 22 older adults in Puerto Rico (mean age ± standard deviation = 73.3 ± 8.2 years) before, during and after eight weeks participation in a...
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Universidad de Costa Rica
2014-09-01
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| Series: | Pensar en Movimiento |
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| Online Access: | http://www.revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/pem/article/view/16784 |
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| author | Osvaldo J Hernandez Soto Farah A Ramirez Marrero |
| author_facet | Osvaldo J Hernandez Soto Farah A Ramirez Marrero |
| author_sort | Osvaldo J Hernandez Soto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Physical inactivity is a major risk factor affecting overall health and functional capacity among older adults. In this study we evaluated functional capacity in 22 older adults in Puerto Rico (mean age ± standard deviation = 73.3 ± 8.2 years) before, during and after eight weeks participation in a structured exercise program. Functional capacity was evaluated using a field test battery (body composition, flexibility, coordination, agility and balance, muscle endurance and cardiorespiratory endurance) validated for this population. Also, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO<sub>2</sub>max) and blood lipid levels were evaluated in a sub-sample (n = 7). A repeated measures ANOVA was used to detect changes in functional capacity before, during and after the exercise program. A paired t-test was used to evaluate changes in VO<sub>2</sub>max and lipids before and after the program. Flexibility improved significantly during the exercise program (51.6 ± 12.2 vs. 57.7 ± 8.1 cm, p=0.04) and this change was sustained at the end of the program (54.4 ± 10.2 cm). At eight weeks into the program, time in the agility and balance test improved by two seconds and muscle endurance improved by five repetitions (p<0.05 for all). No changes were observed in body composition, coordination, VO<sub>2</sub>max and lipid levels (p>0.05). These results suggest that participation in a structured exercise program for eight weeks can positively impact factors that improve movement capacity in older adults. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4579633048cf43ac9e5c9e5dcdb35fbb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1409-0724 1659-4436 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-09-01 |
| publisher | Universidad de Costa Rica |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pensar en Movimiento |
| spelling | doaj-art-4579633048cf43ac9e5c9e5dcdb35fbb2025-02-02T22:20:27ZengUniversidad de Costa RicaPensar en Movimiento1409-07241659-44362014-09-01122163010.15517/pensarmov.v12i2.1678415498Structured Exercise Program is Feasible and Improves Functional Capacity among Older Adults in Puerto RicoOsvaldo J Hernandez Soto0Farah A Ramirez Marrero1Universidad de Puerto Rico Recinto San GermanUniversidad de Puerto Rico Recinto de Río PiedrasPhysical inactivity is a major risk factor affecting overall health and functional capacity among older adults. In this study we evaluated functional capacity in 22 older adults in Puerto Rico (mean age ± standard deviation = 73.3 ± 8.2 years) before, during and after eight weeks participation in a structured exercise program. Functional capacity was evaluated using a field test battery (body composition, flexibility, coordination, agility and balance, muscle endurance and cardiorespiratory endurance) validated for this population. Also, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO<sub>2</sub>max) and blood lipid levels were evaluated in a sub-sample (n = 7). A repeated measures ANOVA was used to detect changes in functional capacity before, during and after the exercise program. A paired t-test was used to evaluate changes in VO<sub>2</sub>max and lipids before and after the program. Flexibility improved significantly during the exercise program (51.6 ± 12.2 vs. 57.7 ± 8.1 cm, p=0.04) and this change was sustained at the end of the program (54.4 ± 10.2 cm). At eight weeks into the program, time in the agility and balance test improved by two seconds and muscle endurance improved by five repetitions (p<0.05 for all). No changes were observed in body composition, coordination, VO<sub>2</sub>max and lipid levels (p>0.05). These results suggest that participation in a structured exercise program for eight weeks can positively impact factors that improve movement capacity in older adults.http://www.revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/pem/article/view/16784Aptitud físicaEnvejecienteViabilidadEjercicio programado |
| spellingShingle | Osvaldo J Hernandez Soto Farah A Ramirez Marrero Structured Exercise Program is Feasible and Improves Functional Capacity among Older Adults in Puerto Rico Pensar en Movimiento Aptitud física Envejeciente Viabilidad Ejercicio programado |
| title | Structured Exercise Program is Feasible and Improves Functional Capacity among Older Adults in Puerto Rico |
| title_full | Structured Exercise Program is Feasible and Improves Functional Capacity among Older Adults in Puerto Rico |
| title_fullStr | Structured Exercise Program is Feasible and Improves Functional Capacity among Older Adults in Puerto Rico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Structured Exercise Program is Feasible and Improves Functional Capacity among Older Adults in Puerto Rico |
| title_short | Structured Exercise Program is Feasible and Improves Functional Capacity among Older Adults in Puerto Rico |
| title_sort | structured exercise program is feasible and improves functional capacity among older adults in puerto rico |
| topic | Aptitud física Envejeciente Viabilidad Ejercicio programado |
| url | http://www.revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/pem/article/view/16784 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT osvaldojhernandezsoto structuredexerciseprogramisfeasibleandimprovesfunctionalcapacityamongolderadultsinpuertorico AT faraharamirezmarrero structuredexerciseprogramisfeasibleandimprovesfunctionalcapacityamongolderadultsinpuertorico |