Effects of moderate-intensity exercise on physiological, behavioral, and emotional responses to family caregiving: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
The study objective was to determine the health and quality-of-life effects of moderate-intensity exercise among older women family caregivers.


METHODS
This 12-month randomized controlled trial involved a volunteer sample of 100 women aged 49 to 82 years who were sedentary, free of cardiovascular disease, and caring for a relative with dementia. Participants were randomized to 12 months of home-based, telephone-supervised, moderate-intensity exercise training or to an attention-control (nutrition education) program. Exercise consisted of four 30- to 40-minute endurance exercise sessions (brisk walking) prescribed per week at 60% to 75% of heart rate reserve based on peak treadmill exercise heart rate. Main outcomes were stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity levels, rated sleep quality, and reported psychological distress.


RESULTS
Compared with nutrition participants (NU), exercise participants (EX) showed significant improvements in the following: total energy expenditure (baseline and post-test means [SD] for EX = 1.4 [1.9] and 2.2 [2.2] kcal/kg/day; for NU = 1.2 [1.7] and 1.2 [1.6] kcal/kg/day; p <.02); stress-induced blood pressure reactivity (baseline and post-test systolic blood pressure reactivity values for EX = 21.6 [12.3] and 12.4 [11.2] mm Hg; for NU = 17.9 [10.2] and 17.7 [13.8] mm Hg; p <.024); and sleep quality (p <.05). NU showed significant improvements in percentages of total calories from fats and saturated fats relative to EX (p values <.01). Both groups reported improvements in psychological distress. Conclusions. Family caregivers can benefit from initiating a regular moderate-intensity exercise program in terms of reductions in stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity and improvements in rated sleep quality.
King
Abby C
AC
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Research and Policy, Center for Research on Women's Health, Reproductive Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California 94304-1583, USA. king@stanford.edu
Baumann
Kellie
K
O'Sullivan
Paula
P
Wilcox
Sara
S
Castro
Cynthia
C
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D017028:Caregivers; D004032:Diet; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology