title: Free radicals and antioxidant enzymes in older adults after regular senior elastic band exercising: an experimental randomized controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to pilot test the effects of regular senior elastic band exercises on the generation of free radicals and antioxidant enzyme activities in older adults.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Long-term regular exercises have positive health promotion outcomes. On the contrary, high-intensity, high-speed and short-term exercises in older adults may increase free radicals and cause chronic disease and ageing effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective randomized controlled pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected during 2012. Twenty-five older adults were recruited from a community care centre, southern Taiwan and were randomly assigned to either an experimental or control group. Twenty-two participants completed the study: experimental group (n = 10) and control group (n = 12). The experimental group performed 6-month senior elastic band exercises while the control group kept regular daily routines. Both groups received blood tests (thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances and glutathione peroxidase) 30 minutes before the study began and 1 hour after the final intervention treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the 6-month senior elastic band exercises, no statistically significant differences in thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances and glutathione peroxidase values between the experimental and control groups. No significant differences existed in both thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances and glutathione peroxidase values before and after the 6-month senior elastic band exercises either.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular senior elastic band exercises did not increase the generation of free radicals and antioxidant enzyme activities. Senior elastic band exercises have the potential to be promoted among older adults in the community as an exercise option without adverse effects on free radicals and have potential for mitigating ageing and increasing disease control.
authors: Department of Nursing, Chest Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan.|College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan.
authors: Lin Yu
authors: LY
authors: Liao
authors: Department of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan.
authors: Wei Sheng
authors: WS
authors: Chung
authors: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan.
authors: Kuei Min
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4075-9607
authors: KM
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000097:blood*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011897:Random Allocation; D013624:Taiwan; D013858:Thiobarbiturates / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D013858:Thiobarbiturates; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; C029684:thiobarbituric acid
keywords: antioxidant enzymes; elastic band exercise; free radicals; nursing; older adults