Exercise - It's never too late: The strong-for-life program

Abstract

Objectives. This investigation determined whether an in-home resistance training program achieved health benefits in older adults with disabilities. Methods. A randomized controlled trial compared the effects of assigning 215 older persons to either a home-based resistance exercise training group or a waiting list control group. Assessments were conducted at baseline and at 3 and 6 months following randomization. The program consisted of videotaped exercise routines performed with elastic bands of varying thickness. Results. High rates of exercise adherence were achieved, with 89% of the recommended exercise sessions performed over 6 months. Relative to controls, subjects who participated in the program achieved statistically significant lower extremity strength improvements of 6% to 12%, a 20% improvement in tandem gait, and a 15% to 18% reduction in physical and overall disability at the 6- month follow-up. No adverse health effects were encountered. Conclusions. These findings provide important evidence that home based resistance exercise programs designed for older persons with disabilities hold promise as an effective public health strategy.