The effects of individualized exercise programming on muscular fitness, functional mobility, and subjective well-being in older persons
Date
1999
Authors
Bongiovanni-Russell, Florence
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Abstract
This 16 week study assessed whether an individualized, comprehensive, and progressive exercise program can have a positive effect on the health condition of older persons. Eleven volunteers (7 men & 4 women) ranging between the ages of 60 to 82 years participated in the study. Each of these subjects were given an individualized exercise program to complete and was continuously monitored over the course of the study. Three different types of single case designs were incorporated in this study to observe changes in muscular fitness, functional mobility, and subjective well-being these included ABAB (self-paced walk), changing criterion (lRM strength testing, 50% of lRM endurance testing, sit-&-reach flexibility testing), and probes (weighted stair-climb, subjective exercise experience scale, & the satisfaction with life scale). The effects of the training program generally indicated improvements in muscular strength, muscular endurance, and stair ascension pace across all participants. Modest improvements were noted in the flexibility results and although the participants demonstrated minimal changes in gait pace from the self-paced walk, other improvements were observed in body posture and carriage. There was limited support that indicated resistance training enhanced subjective well-being. The majority of participants had a higher degree of feeling states for subjective well-being and life satisfaction prior to program implementation, which remained unchanged over the course of the study. The study has demonstrated that this type of exercise program can have a positive effect on the health condition of older persons. An individualized, comprehensive, and progressive program consisting of resistance training, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory exercises within a well supervised setting is recommended.