Ergometer-cycling with strict versus minimal contact supervision among the oldest adults: A cluster-randomised controlled trial

Physical Activity Programming for Older Adults in Assisted Living: Residents' Perspectives

Decreasing sedentary behavior and increasing light physical activity could promote the maintenance of functional abilities for older adults in assisted living (AL). The purpose of this qualitative study was to gather residents' recommendations about a proposed self-efficacy enhancing intervention to replace sedentary behavior with light physical activity. We interviewed 20 residents (mean age 83.1; 60% women). Topics included their current activities and thoughts about physical activity. We presented the intervention and asked questions to inform its modification. Data were analyzed with content and thematic analysis. Specific recommendations included shorter one-hour sessions and framing the intervention as increasing light physical activity rather than decreasing sedentary behavior. The thematic analysis identified multiple factors that could influence intervention implementation, including motivation to be active, safety concerns, ageist attitudes about physical activity, varying abilities of residents, social influences, and limited opportunities for physical activity. These results will inform physical activity intervention implementation for AL residents.

Effects of a 12-Week Cycling Intervention on Successful Aging Measures in Mid-Aged Adults

Purpose: To compare the effect of 12-weeks of cycling training and competition versus recreational cycling on successful aging across physical, psychological, cognitive, and social functioning domains in mid-aged adults. Methods: Recreational cyclists were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 13, M age = 47.18 years) and comparison (n = 13, M age = 46.91 years) group. Analysis of Covariance was used on self-reported pre-post data to determine changes across time and differences between groups on outcomes. Results: The intervention group scored higher on the role limitation due to physical problems measure of physical functioning (p = .045) and the social activity measure of social functioning (p = .008) with large effect sizes (η_p ² > .14). The remaining physical, psychological, cognitive, and social functioning measures were not significantly different (p > .05) between groups with small to medium effect sizes (η_p ² > .01 to ≤ .06). Conclusion: Cycling training and competition promotes better physical and social functioning than recreational cycling. This finding indicates that an intervention that incorporates the training and competition aspects of sport may promote positive outcomes that are above and beyond those that can be gained from participation in recreational physical activity. Objective measurements on larger samples across a broader range of sports are required to confirm and extend these findings.

An age-adapted plyometric exercise program improves dynamic strength, jump performance and functional capacity in older men either similarly or more than traditional resistance training

Power declines at a greater rate during ageing and is more relevant for functional deterioration than either loss of maximum strength or muscle mass. Human movement typically consists of stretch-shortening cycle action. Therefore, plyometric exercises, using an eccentric phase quickly followed by a concentric phase to optimize power production, should resemble daily function more than traditional resistance training, which primarily builds force production capacity in general. However, it is unclear whether older adults can sustain such high-impact training. This study compared the effects of plyometric exercise (PLYO) on power, force production, jump and functional performance to traditional resistance training (RT) and walking (WALK) in older men. Importantly, feasibility was investigated. Forty men (69.5 ± 3.9 years) were randomized to 12-weeks of PLYO (N = 14), RT (N = 12) or WALK (N = 14). Leg press one-repetition maximum (1-RM), leg-extensor isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and rate of force development (RFD), jump and functional performance were evaluated pre- and post-intervention. One subject in RT (low back pain) and three in PLYO (2 muscle strains, 1 knee pain) dropped out. Adherence to (91.2 ± 4.4%) and acceptability of (≥ 7/10) PLYO was high. 1-RM improved more in RT (25.0 ± 10.0%) and PLYO (23.0 ± 13.6%) than in WALK (2.9 ± 13.7%) (p < 0.001). PLYO improved more on jump height, jump power, contraction time of jumps and stair climbing performance compared to WALK and/or RT (p < 0.05). MVC improved in RT only (p = 0.028) and RFD did not improve (p > 0.05). To conclude, PLYO is beneficial over RT for improving power, jump and stair climbing performance without compromising gains in strength. This form of training seems feasible, but contains an inherent higher risk for injuries, which should be taken into account when designing programs for older adults.

Can a framed intervention motivate older adults in assisted living facilities to exercise?

Background

The majority of institutionalized older adults do not exercise, despite the many health benefits. The current study investigated whether a framed intervention can motivate older adults in assisted living facilities (ALFs) to perform functional resistance exercises. It was hypothesized that repeated framing of these exercises from a prevention perspective (e.g., to avoid health deterioration) would nurture the development of controlled motivation to exercise. By contrast, repeated framing of the exercises from a promotion perspective (e.g., to improve health) was expected to lead to higher exercise frequencies over time and to foster the development of autonomous motivation. Autonomous motivation was hypothesized to predict higher exercise frequencies over time.

Methods

A total of 111 residents, aged 65+ years (M = 81.4 y; SD = 6.4 y) participated in the study. These participants received a printed three-week individual program with a standard session of eight functional resistance exercises. Four weekly sessions were recommended. Participants were semi-randomized into three framing conditions: neutral (i.e., control), prevention or promotion. They received condition-specific written and spoken messages about the exercises at the beginning of the intervention. The spoken messages were repeated at the end of each week. Participants kept a checklist with their weekly exercise frequency and at corresponding points in time, they completed a questionnaire about their levels of autonomous and controlled motivation to exercise.

Results

Across conditions and time points, the exercise frequencies and the levels of autonomous motivation were generally high, whereas the levels of controlled motivation were generally low. Contrary to the expectations, there were no significant framing effects. However, higher levels of autonomous motivation predicted higher exercise frequencies. During the final exercise week, this was especially the case for intrinsic regulation (i.e., for the sake of the activity).

Conclusions

This study indicates that older adults who live in ALFs can be motivated to perform functional resistance exercises. Given the importance of intrinsic regulation, we advise to create an exercise atmosphere that allows for immediate, positive experiences and in which the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness are satisfied.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrialsID NCT02780037 (23 February 2016).