Effect of Alternative Therapeutic Exercise on the Older Adults – A Pilot Study

Abstract

IntroductionRegular physical activity is essential for sedentary older adults (aged 65 years and above) who are at the risk for multiple comorbidities. By performing physical activity, older adults can maintain or improve their physical function and mobility that may help them to be independent for a long time and delay the occurrence of disability in the future.ObjectiveTo assess the effect of the eccentric exercises prior to tai chi and yoga performance in the activities of daily living (ADL), balance and gait, and muscle strength in older adults.MethodsNine sedentary independent older adults aged between 60 and 90 were recruited. The study included the medical pre‐protocol assessment, the eccentric (ECC) exercise protocol with and without tai chi and yoga, subjective (Health activities of daily living (ADL) difficulty scale), and objective (Tinetti balance and gait, muscle strength) assessments, and medical post‐protocol assessment.ResultsThe functional limitations, Tinetti balance and gait score, manual muscle strength testing, and active range of motion (AROM) were improved in the medical post‐protocol assessment. Muscle strength showed statistically significant differences on the shoulder abductors (P=0.035), the elbow extensors (P=0.046), the hip abductors (P=0.028) and the hip extensors (P=0.03).ConclusionsOur findings show low perceived exercises (ECC) prior to tai chi and yoga training are well suited to the sedentary independent older adults with chronic conditions.