Exercise training for African Americans with disabilities residing in difficult social environments.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of a structured 12-week exercise training program for a predominantly African-American group of adults with multiple health conditions who reside in difficult social environments.


METHODS
A total of 37 females and 7 males (mean age, 54.1 years) participated in an exercise training regimen 3 days per week for 60 minutes per day (cardiovascular, 30 minutes; strength, 20 minutes; and flexibility, 10 minutes). Outcome measures included peak VO(2) (mL min(-1), mL kg(-1) min(-1)); upper and lower body strength (strength); hand-grip strength (GS); body weight (BW); total skin folds (TS); waist-to-hip ratio (WHR); hamstring/low-back flexibility (HLBF); and shoulder flexibility (SF).


RESULTS
Compared to the control group, the exercise group showed significant gains in peak VO(2) (p < 0.01); strength (p < 0.01); and body composition (TS, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the exercise and control groups on BW, WHR, HLBF, and GS. Of a total 1116 exercise sessions (31 experimental participants x 36 sessions), 87% of the sessions were attended.


CONCLUSIONS
A structured exercise-training program can provide substantial improvement in strength and cardiovascular fitness in low-income, sedentary adults with multiple chronic conditions and/or risk factors for chronic conditions. Future research should explore simple home-based and community-based physical activity interventions that provide ongoing support for increasing and maintaining physical activity participation in this cohort.
Rimmer
James H
JH
Department of Disability and Human Development (Rimmer), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. jrimmer@uic.edu
Nicola
Terry
T
Riley
Barth
B
Creviston
Todd
T
D001741:Black or African American; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002641:Chicago; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011203:Poverty; D012931:Social Environment; D016896:Treatment Outcome