title: Physical activity in older adults in a combined functional circuit and walking program.
abstract: Our study examined the impact of a 16-week functional circuit/walking program on physical activity (PA) in older adults in independent-living facilities. Exploratory goals included examination of associations among self-efficacy, neighborhood and mobility. Participants (N = 13) were female (M = 77.8, SD = 7.44, range = 65-85 years). One third were African-American; the remainder Caucasian; 1/3 used assistive devices. PA increased from 70 min/week (SD = 35.51) at baseline to 81.31 min/week (SD = 34.21) at 16 weeks. PA was associated with self-efficacy for overcoming neighborhood and facility barriers to walking at all measurement points (baseline r = .73, p < .05 and r = .68, p < .05, respectively). At eight weeks, PA was associated with self-efficacy for walking duration (r = .58, p < .05), self-efficacy for individual (r = .66, p < .05), facility (r = .58, p < .05) and neighborhood (r = .70, p < .05) barriers. At sixteen weeks, physical activity was associated with balance confidence (r = .72, p < .05), and self-efficacy for individual (r = .76, p < .05), facility (r = .71, p < .05), and neighborhood (r = .80, p < .01) barriers. Functional circuit/walking interventions can increase PA in older adults. Further examination of self-efficacy, mobility, neighborhoods and PA is needed.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan School of Nursing, 400 North Ingalls, Room 3341, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: nagalla@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Nancy Ambrose
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Philippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan-Flint Department of Physical Therapy, Flint, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carr
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Exercise; Gerontology; Mobility; Neighborhood environment; Physical activity; Self-efficacy