Impact of the first step to active aging on older adult's functional fitness, balance and daily activity
Date
2009-05-01Author
Slimmer, Mindy Lynn
Park, Eun Young
Rogers, Nicole L.
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Slimmer, Mindy L., Park, Eun Young and Nicole L. Rogers(2009). Impact of the First Step to Active Aging on Older Adult's Functional Fitness, Balance, and Daily Activity. In Proceedings: 5th Annual Symposium: Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects. Wichita, KS: Wichita State University, p. 160-161
Abstract
To determine how the First Step to Active Aging (FSAH) program impacts functional fitness (FF), balance, and daily physical activity (DPA) in older adults. The FSAH group consisted of 18 women. FSAH group met at a senior center for 11 wk, 2d•wk for a 50 min. training program (flexibility, strength, balance, aerobic). The control group consisted of 15 women. Program effectiveness was assessed using measures of FF (chair stand, arm curl, sit & reach, up & go, scratch test, and 12-min walk), balance (movement velocity (MVL), endpoint excursion (EPE), maximum EPE (MXE), and directional control (DCL) for forward (F), right (R), left (L) and back (B) movements), pedometer measured DPA, and weight. No baseline difference existed between groups. Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed group x time interactions (p < .05) on all measures except flexibility. After 11 weeks, FF improvements were noted in the FSAH group: Chair Stand 46 %, Arm Curl 25 %; Up-&-Go 8 %; 12-min Walk 13%. With respect to LOS, MXE improved in all directions (F 18%, R 14%, B 23%,L 10%) and DCL improved in the F direction 9%. DPA also increased from 3,108 to 5,077 steps (38%). The control group did not change in any variable. Participating in a FSAH program improves FF.
Description
Paper presented to the 5th Annual Symposium on Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) held at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, Wichita State University, May 1, 2009.
Research completed at the School of Community Affairs, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences