The influence of ecological-based multi-component exercise training programs on functional fitness and leisure-time physical activity among older adults

• Main Authors: Fang, I-Yao, 方怡堯
• Other Authors: Chang, Shao-Hsi
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/86823702744134998468

博士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 體育學系 === 103 === Taiwan is an aging society, with the amount and proportion of older citizens aged 65 and over increasing rapidly in recent years. Because of such population trend, a public health intervention that focuses on using exercise to promote health among older adults has become imperative. Although studies have shown that many Taiwanese older adults do spend quite amount of time participating in physical activities, the intensity and variety of such participation is often limited. Furthermore, although there are increasing numbers of exercise programs available to seniors, oftentimes programs are not designed by professionals or for sustained participation among the older generation. The purpose of this study is to examine the impacts of multi-component exercise training (MET) programs (i.e., flexibility exercise, resistance exercise, aerobic training, and balance training, etc.) among older adults, with a focus on whether adapting an ecological approach that delivers interventions at different levels (i.e., individuals, organizations, and communities) can affect seniors' functional fitness and leisure-time physical activity participation. The subjects were recruited from the “Recreation Hubs—Health promotion and consultation project” initiated by the Department of Health in Taipei, Taiwan in 2014. Using a quasi-experimental design, participants were selected into three study groups. The Experimental Group 1 (24 participants) received the ecological-based MET intervention, while the Experimental Group 2 (25 participants) received the MET and the Control Group (25 participants) received no interventions and continued participating in low-intensity physical activities. To evaluate the impacts, data were collected from all participants using the Senior Functional Fitness Test (SFT) and Leisure Time Physical Activity (LTPA) scale one week before the project started (0 week), one week after the project ended (13th week), and at the 25th week. Results from the independent t-tests, chi-square tests and two-way ANOVA repeated measures (α＜.05) suggested that: (1) Participation in low-intensity physical activities alone cannot lead to enhanced functional fitness among older adults; (2) Participation in MET, despite it's an ecological-based model or not, can effectively promote seniors' functional fitness and leisure time physical activity participation; (3) The ecological-based MET can maintain and promote seniors' functional fitness and their participation in leisure time physical activities more effectively than the general MET. Conclusion: MET programs, especially those based on the ecological model, can effectively maintain and promote seniors' functional fitness and leisure time physical activity participation. Because of the benefits, policy makers are encouraged to promote MET programs as an effective public health intervention for older adults.