Effects of a Forest-based Exercise Program on Physical Balance and Walking Ability among Older Adults in South Korea

Abstract

Objectives: Despite the psychological, physiological, and physical benefits of forest healing on older adults, limited studies have reported the benefits of forest exercise programs on their health. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a forest exercise program that incorporates professional rehabilitation practices, indispensable and harmless for older adults, considering their fragile physical characteristics. Methods: Forty older adults participated in this 12-week-long clinical trial from August 2, 2022 to October 17, 2022. We excluded those with cardiac or respiratory diseases, cognitive impairment, or other underlying diseases, and those unable to walk independently. Upon each visit, the participants underwent a Frenkel exercise program on a flat land with a slope < 7° for 40 minutes and forest walking for 30 minutes. Results: Thirty participants completed the study without any falls or adverse events. The Berg balance scale scores improved from 54.37 ± 1.67 to 55.07 ± 1.70 (p < .003). The timed up-and-go test scores improved from 8.99 ± 2.54 to 8.12 ± 1.64 (p < .046). We observed significantly enhanced balance function and walking ability. Conclusions: The forest exercise program showed great improvement in the participants with a noticeable deterioration in balance and mobility. Randomized controlled trials are needed to generalize the results.