[Effects of a physical activity program using exergame with elderly women].
OBJECTIVE
This study was done to investigate the motivational, physical and affective benefits of exergaming in community dwelling older adult women.


METHODS
The research design was a nonequivalent control group pre-test and post-test design. Sixty-one older adult women over the age of 65 were recruited from 6 community senior centers to participate in the 8 week exercise intervention or control group. Six centers were divided into one of three groups: exergame, qigong exercise, or control. The exergame and the qigong exercise group received 16 sessions, scheduled twice a week, with each session lasting 50 minutes. Test measures were completed before and after the 8 week intervention period for all participants. Measures included: Grip strength, chair stand, 6 m walking, balance, geriatric depression scale, vitality and intrinsic motivation.


RESULTS
There were significant improvements in the exergame and qigong exercise group for grip strength, chair stand, 6m walking, balance, vitality and intrinsic motivation at the end the 8-week program compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The exergame could be an effective alternative for older adult women to group exercise classes.
Daun Elementary School, Ulsan, Korea. enochi@naver.com.
Jungok
J
Yu
College of Nursing, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
Jungsoon
J
Kim
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D004856:Postural Balance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D057566:Self Report; D064407:Senior Centers; D026302:Tai Ji
Older adults; Physical activity; Qigong; Video games