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Meeting physical activity guidelines through community-based group exercise: "better bones and balance"
Adrienne J McNamara1, Michael J Pavol, Katherine B Gunter
1School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
Journal of Aging and Physical Activity
|August 18, 2012
Summary
Community exercise programs like Better Bones and Balance (BBB) provide significant bone-loading forces and cardiovascular activity for older adults. Participation meets recommended guidelines for skeletal and cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Exercise Physiology
- Bone Health
Background:
- Community-based exercise programs are popular for older adults aiming to increase physical activity.
- The specific physical activity and bone-loading effects of such programs are not well-quantified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify bone-loading forces and cardiovascular activity levels during participation in the Better Bones and Balance (BBB) program.
- To determine if BBB participation meets physical activity guidelines for older adults.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-six postmenopausal women (average age 73.2 years) participated.
- Ground-reaction forces (GRFs) were measured using a force platform.
- Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and time above 55% maximum heart rate (HR) were measured using accelerometers and HR monitors.
Main Results:
- BBB exercises generated mean 1-leg GRFs between 1.4-2.2 body weight units.
- Weekly BBB participation yielded 126 ± 31 minutes of MVPA.
Conclusions:
- The physical activity and bone-loading effects of the BBB program meet recommended guidelines.
- BBB is an effective community-based program for promoting skeletal and cardiovascular health in older adults.
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