Long-term Exercise Program Enrolment in Older Adults

Abstract

Substantial research supports the benefits of exercise training for older adults, but much of the existing evidence comes from highly structured, laboratory-based interventions. A longitudinal investigation of the impact of enrolment in a community exercise program on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular strength among a heterogeneous population of older adults is warranted. PURPOSE: To examine changes in CRF and muscular strength among participants of the MacSeniors Exercise and Wellness program through a retrospective chart review. METHODS: Included subjects (n = 124) completed exercise tests prior to program entry and after a minimum of one-year participation in the program. One-sample t-tests were used to analyze rates of change in CRF and muscular strength (separately for each muscle group) in comparison to the population sample. The rate of 1.00% per year was selected for comparison because it is the minimum expected CRF decline. Rates of strength decline were compared to those established in the Health Aging and Body Composition Study (2006) by Goodpaster et al. (3.42% and 2.65% for men and women, respectively) due to its comparable design and participant characteristics. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up time of 5.2 ± 2.6 years, absolute- (-0.29 ± 0.58%, p = 0.23) and relative- (0.06 ± 0.62%, p = 0.13) changes in VO2peak were not significantly different than the minimum expected decline of 1.00% per year, among men. However, both measures of CRF significantly improved over time in women (absolute VO2peak [2.25 ± 0.66%, p < 0.001]; relative VO2peak [2.24 ± 0.68%, p < 0.001]). Changes in muscular strength were significantly less than the established rates of decline across all muscle groups in both men ([1-repetition maximum (1-RM) bench press: -0.38 ± 0.96%, 1-RM row: -0.01 ± 0.82%, 1-RM knee extension: 0.25 ± 0.83%], p < 0.05) and women ([1-RM bench press: 3.23 ± 1.11%, 1-RM row: 1.58 ± 0.91%, 1-RM knee extension: 0.73 ± 1.21%], p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Enrolment in the MacSeniors Exercise and Wellness program attenuated the age-related decline in VO2peak in women, but not in men in comparison to previously published rates of decline. Decline in upper and lower body large muscle force was attenuated in both men and women across all muscle groups compared to previously published normative rates of change.