title: Health Promotion Outcomes of a Newly Developed Elastic Band Exercise Program for Older Adults in the Community: A Pilot Test.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies indicate that the incidence of disease, the mortality rate, and medical costs are significantly higher in people aged 65 years and over who do not engage in physical activities than in their peers who do engage in these activities. Therefore, promoting appropriate physical activity among older adults in the community is essential to delaying the health implications of aging.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This pilot test was developed to assess the effectiveness of a newly developed Senior Elastic Band (SEB) exercise program on the health of older adults in community care stations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasiexperimental design was used. A convenience sample of 20 participants from a community care station was recruited. The SEB intervention included three phases (warm-up, aerobic motion, and static stretching) and was conducted three times per week, 40 minutes per session for 1 month. Twelve health indicators in three categories (functional fitness, self-perceived health status, and sleep quality) were examined before and immediately after 1 month of SEB exercises.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants showed improved performance at the end of the 1-month study for the following indicators: lung capacity, cardiopulmonary fitness, upper and lower body flexibilities, upper limb muscle power, lower limb muscle endurance, and self-perceived physical health status (all ps < .05). No significant differences were identified for the other indicators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SEB exercise program shows preliminary and promising effects on improving the health of older adults in a community care station. Healthcare professionals who work with older adults living in the community may consider the SEB exercise program as a health promotion modality to recommend and implement with this population. However, we recommend further testing the long-term effects of this program on a larger population.
authors.affiliation: 1MS, RN, Doctoral Student, College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University 2PhD, OT, Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Kaohsiung Medical University 3PhD, RN, Professor, College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University 4BS, Yoga Instructor, Center for Continuing Education and Social Resources, Kaohsiung Medical University 5BS, Research Assistant, College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University 6MS, RN, Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Yuh-Ing Junior College of Health Care and Management.
authors.forename: Shu-Ya
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Chang-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Kuei-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-Shyuan
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Hsin-Ting
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chun-Huw
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013624:Taiwan