The effects of aerobic training and nutrition education on functional performance in low socioeconomic older adults.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the population in terms of risk for disability and compare the effects of a walking intervention and nutrition education intervention on risk modification and functional performance in lower socioeconomic older adults using a randomized controlled study.


METHODS
Twenty-six community-dwelling older adults aged 60 and older were randomly assigned to a 16-week walking exercise group or a nutrition education control group. Peak aerobic capacity and physical function were measured at baseline and post intervention. Physical function was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey Physical Function subscale, Short Physical Performance Battery, Physical Performance Test, and Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance 10 item test (CS-PFP10).


RESULTS
Eighty-five percent of the participants were at risk for preclinical disability of which 50% were at risk for moderate disability. The walking exercise group significantly improved in peak aerobic capacity (18.9%), physical function (25%) using the CS-PFP10 compared to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings highlight the importance of physical activity and indicate that walking, a simple exercise that can be done without specialized exercise leader or equipment can significantly increase peak aerobic capacity and physical function in just 4 months.
Moore-Harrison
Trudy L
TL
Department of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 29223, USA. tlmoore2@uncc.edu
Speer
Elizabeth M
EM
Johnson
Farris T
FT
Cress
Marie E
ME
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011204:Poverty Areas; D016138:Walking