Group- vs home-based exercise training in healthy older men and women. A community-based clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
--To determine the effectiveness of group- vs home-based exercise training of higher and lower intensities among healthy, sedentary older adults.


METHODS
--Year-long randomized, controlled trial comparing (1) higher-intensity group-based exercise training; (2) higher-intensity home-based exercise training; (3) lower-intensity home-based exercise training; or (4) assessment-only control.


METHODS
--General community located in northern California.


METHODS
--One hundred sixty women and 197 men 50 to 65 years of age who were sedentary and free of cardiovascular disease. One out of nine persons contacted through a community random-digit-dial telephone survey and citywide promotion were randomized.


METHODS
--For higher-intensity exercise training, three 40-minute endurance training sessions per week were prescribed at 73% to 88% of peak treadmill heart rate. For lower-intensity exercise training, five 30-minute endurance training sessions per week were prescribed at 60% to 73% of peak treadmill heart rate.


METHODS
--Treadmill exercise test performance, exercise participation rates, and heart disease risk factors.


RESULTS
--Compared with controls, subjects in all three exercise training conditions showed significant improvements in treadmill exercise test performance at 6 and 12 months (P less than .03). Lower-intensity exercise training achieved changes comparable with those of higher-intensity exercise training. Twelve-month exercise adherence rates were better for the two home-based exercise training conditions relative to the group-based exercise training condition (P less than .0005). There were no significant training-induced changes in lipid levels, weight, or blood pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
--We conclude that (1) this community-based exercise training program improved fitness but not heart disease risk factors among sedentary, healthy older adults; (2) home-based exercise was as effective as group exercise in producing these changes; (3) lower-intensity exercise training was as effective as higher-intensity exercise training in the home setting; and (4) the exercise programs were relatively safe.
King
A C
AC
Department of Medicine, Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, CA.
Haskell
W L
WL
Taylor
C B
CB
Kraemer
H C
HC
DeBusk
R F
RF
D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged / Q000502:physiology*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D012307:Risk Factors