Comparing Physical Activity And Fitness Among Hispanic Elders In Two Community-based Programs In Puerto Rico

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Comparing physical activity and fitness among Hispanic elders in two community-based programs in Puerto Rico Community-based programs are ideal settings to promote physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) among elders; therefore, improving health and quality of life. However, PA and PF in these programs are rarely documented. PURPOSE: We evaluated PA and PF among Hispanic elders in a community-based program located in two municipalities in Puerto Rico, one with (San Germán) and one without (Mayagüez) a PA program. HYPOTHESES: steps/day, time in moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and PF will be higher among elders in San Germán compared with Mayagüez. METHODS: Fifty-seven Hispanic elders in San Germán (n=30) and Mayagüez (n=27) wore a GT3X+ accelerometer attached to a waist band during seven consecutive days and completed PF evaluations (muscle strength with hand dynamometry, muscle endurance with squats and 3-5 lb. elbow flexion per 30 sec, flexibility with back scratch, agility with “foot up and go” test, cardiorespiratory endurance with distance covered in 6 min, and BMI). An independent t-test was used to detect differences between Centers. RESULTS: Steps/day among elders in San Germán and Mayagüez were not different (4,121±376 vs. 3,940±445 steps/day, respectively, P=0.76), but there was a tendency for MVPA to be higher in San Germán compared with Mayagüez (96.6±31.5 vs. 35.6±9.7 min/week, respectively, P=0.05). However, elders in both Centers were below the recommended PA levels. Elders in San Germán showed better results in all PF components compared with Mayagüez: muscle strength (24.9±1.4 vs. 19.5±1.4, P=0.009), muscle endurance (upper body [18.2±0.8 vs. 14.8±0.8 Kg, P=0.004], and lower body [14.1±0.7 vs. 11.6±0.7 kg, P=0.01]), flexibility (-5.2±.8 vs. -8.1±0.9, P=0.02), agility (33.7±1.5 vs. 48.2±3.5 sec, P=0.0003), and cardiorespiratory endurance (481.0±15.0 vs. 388.8±28.1 m, P=0.004). CONCLUSION: Although elders in both Centers did not comply with current PA recommendation, the PA program in San Germán could explain the tendency for higher MVPA and higher PF among its participants. These results support the integration of daily sessions of physically demanding activities for Hispanic elders in community-based programs.