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Exercise--it's never too late: the strong-for-life program
A M Jette1, M Lachman, M M Giorgetti
1Sargent College, Boston University, MA 02215, USA. ajette@bu.edu
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.