Promoting Stair Climbing as an Exercise Routine among Healthy Older Adults Attending a Community-Based Physical Activity Program.

Nobuko Hongu,Mieko Shimada,Yusuke Nakajima,Rieko Miyake,Yutaka Yoshitake,Ichirou Nakajima

doi:10.3390/sports7010023

Abstract

Stair climbing provides a feasible opportunity for increasing physical activity (PA) in daily living. The purpose of this study was to examine the daily walking and stair-climbing steps among healthy older adults (age: 74.0 ± 4.9 years; Body Mass Index (BMI): 22.3 ± 2.5 kg/m2). Participants (34 females and 15 males) attended a weekly 6-month community-based PA program. During the entire program period, daily walking and stair-climbing steps were recorded using a pedometer (Omron, HJA-403C, Kyoto, Japan). Before and after the 6-month program, height, body weight and leg muscle strength were assessed. After the 6-month program, the mean walking and stair-climbing steps in both women and men increased significantly (p ≤ 0.01). Daily stair-climbing steps increased about 36 steps in women and 47 steps in men. At the end of 6 months, only male participants had significant correlation between the number of stair steps and leg muscle strength (r = 0.428, p = 0.037). This study reported that healthy older adults attending the community-based PA program had regular stair-climbing steps during daily living. Promoting stair climbing as an exercise routine was feasible to increase their walking and stair-climbing steps.

Highlights

Aging-induced physiological changes such as declining strength, endurance, balance and cognitive decline [1] adversely affect the activities of daily living [2]
There were no significant differences in age, gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), and baseline daily step counts between participants who completed the study and those who dropped out (p > 0.05, data not shown)
To the best of our knowledge, program had anythe additional impact on their steps dailyduring walking steps

Summary

Introduction

Aging-induced physiological changes such as declining strength, endurance, balance and cognitive decline [1] adversely affect the activities of daily living [2]. It is well documented that regular physical activity (PA) helps older adults improve their health, maintain independent living, and enhances their overall quality of life [3,4]. PA levels are low and decrease throughout aging in older adults [5,6]. Older adults should be encouraged to maintain or increase regular PA levels [1,7]. In Japan 26.6% of the total population is 65 years old or older, ranking as the world’s oldest population [8]. It is projected that 40.1% of the total population will be 65 years old or older in 2050 [8]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion