Exercise may help order adults stay independent

AORN Journal,  May, 2007  

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Older adults who participate in a program of aerobic training, muscle strengthening, and balance and flexibility exercises may live more independent lives than those who do not exercise, according to a Nov 21, 2006, news release from the Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif. Older adult study participants who increased their levels of regular exercise performed better on a test that measured their balance, walking speed, and ability to rise from a chair than participants who did not exercise.

Researchers performed a year-tong, multicenter study of 424 participants ages 70 to 89 years. Half of the participants spent approximately two-and-a-half hours per week walking at a moderate pace as well as strengthening and stretching their leg muscles. The second half of the study group received education on healthy living, including advice on nutrition, medications, and foot care. On a 12-point fitness test, participants in the exercise group scored an average of one point better than participants in the group who only received educational information, a difference that is considered substantial Participants in the exercise group also were less likely to suffer from an age-related disability that would hamper their movement.

Value of Exercise for Seniors Shown in Multi-Center Study with Stanford [news release]. Stanford, Calif: Stanford University School of Medicine; November 21, 2006. Available at: http://mednews.stanford.edu /releases/2006/november/exercise.html. Accessed December 4, 2006.

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