The benefits of a functional exercise circuit for older adults.
The physical benefits of a functional exercise circuit are not well known in an elderly population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a functional exercise circuit on mobility and perceived health in the elderly. Subjects were 119 men and women (aged 74 [+/-4.2] years) who received pre- and posttests of mobility (e.g., sit to stand, get up and go, timed walk), flexibility (sit and reach), and balance (standing reach) and who completed the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). A supervised functional exercise circuit that included 10 different upper- and lower-body exercises performed under time constraints was performed 3 times per week for 12 consecutive weeks. Paired t-tests showed significant differences at posttest for the get up and go (p < 0.001), standing reach (p < 0.001), sit and reach (p < 0.001), and selected items from the SF-36, including physical functioning (p < 0.001), pain (p = 0.001), vitality (p = 0.001), and number of doctor visits (p < 0.001). A functional exercise circuit such as the one employed in this study may offer promise as an effective means of promoting mobility and perceived health in older adults.
Whitehurst
Michael A
MA
Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion, Florida Atlantic University, Davie, Florida 33314, USA. whitehur@fau.edu
Johnson
Beverly L
BL
Parker
Cherie M
CM
Brown
Lee E
LE
Ford
Allison M
AM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome