Short and long-term adherence to swimming and walking programs in older women--the Sedentary Women Exercise Adherence Trial (SWEAT 2).
OBJECTIVE
To examine in previously sedentary older women the effects of exercise mode and a behavioural intervention on short and long-term retention and adherence.


METHODS
Healthy, sedentary women aged 50-70 years (N=116) were randomly assigned to a supervised 6-month swimming or walking program 3 sessions a week. They were further randomised to usual care or a behavioural intervention. The same program was further continued unsupervised for 6 months. We assessed retention, adherence, stage of exercise behaviour and changes in fitness.


RESULTS
One hundred women (86%) completed 6 months and 86 (74%) continued for 12 months. Retention rates were similar for both exercise modes at 6 and 12 months. Adherence to swimming or walking was similar after 6 months (76.3 (95% CI: 69.5, 83.1)% vs. 74.3 (67.7, 80.9)%) and 12 months (65.8 (57.9, 73.8)% vs. 62.2 (54.6, 70.0)%). The behavioural intervention did not enhance retention or adherence. Fitness improved for both exercise modes after 6 months and was maintained at 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Either swimming or walking programs initiated with careful supervision over 6 months resulted in similar high retention and adherence rates by highly motivated older women over 12 months. Behavioural intervention in this setting did not improve these rates further.
Cox
Kay L
KL
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Australia. kaycox@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Burke
Valerie
V
Beilin
Lawrence J
LJ
Derbyshire
Amanda J
AJ
Grove
J Robert
JR
Blanksby
Brian A
BA
Puddey
Ian B
IB
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*