Effects of Big-Amplitude Calisthenic Group Exercises With Music on Balance, Cognition, Physical Activity, and...

Aging physical capacity and the ability to perform daily activities. This study aims to investigate the effects of music added to big-amplitude calisthenic group exercises on dual-task performance and balance in older adults.

Fifty participants aged 65-80 years were randomly assigned to two groups (Group 1: Mage = 69.44 ± 3.88 years, Group 2: Mage = 68.76 ± 2.78 years). Group 1 performed a big-amplitude calisthenic exercise program accompanied by classical music, while Group 2 performed the same program without music. The intervention lasted 8 weeks with two 60-min sessions per week. Outcomes were assessed pre- and postintervention using the Mini-Mental State Examination, Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, Dual-Task Questionnaire, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly.

Both groups improved significantly from baseline in Mini-Mental State Examination, Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, Dual-Task Questionnaire, Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, TUG, and TUG dual task (all p < .001). Group 1 demonstrated larger improvements across these outcomes compared with Group 2, with higher within-group effect sizes in the Mini-Mental State Examination (d = 0.98 vs. 0.29), Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (d = 0.49 vs. 0.16), Dual-Task Questionnaire (d = 1.07 vs. 0.76), Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (d = 0.82 vs. 0.15), TUG (d = 0.47 vs. 0.36), and TUG dual task (d = 0.56 vs. 0.48).

Big-amplitude calisthenic group exercises appear to have beneficial effects on balance and dual-task performance in older adults, with music potentially enhancing these outcomes. Significance/Implications: Music-supported calisthenic exercises may promote cognitive-motor benefits in older adults, though the lack of a nonexercise control group and short follow-up limit the strength of conclusions.