Effects of functional and resistive exercise training on physical function and perceived self-efficacy and well-being in frail elderly adults
Abstract
This quasi-experimental study was conducted to determine whether 12
weeks of functional training or resistive training would influence physical
function, physical self-efficacy, and psychological well-being among frail elderly
adults relative to a comparison group. Volunteers (N = 96, M = 82.5 years, SD =
6.5, range 70-99 years) were selected from eight different sites that included
nursing homes, assisted living institutions, retirement centers, and senior
recreation sites. Functional training, resistive training or a control condition was
randomly assigned to each site. The participants at each site met two times a week
for one hour. The functional training group practiced everyday living tasks
(functional training) to motivate them to move their bodies more in ways that
would contribute to instrumental activities of daily living. The resistive training
group used elastic bands and increased intensity when appropriate by changing the
resistance of the band. The comparison group participated in regular site activities,
such as Bingo. The results from covariate group analyses that controlled for age,
gender, education level, medication usage, attendance, and problems associated
with impaired performance, indicated that older adultsí physical function as it
relates to physical function test scores was maintained and may have improved
slightly with functional training but not with resistive elastic band training. Group
means were significantly improved in the functional training group on the PPT
total score, and also on a single item of the PPT-7 Test, putting on and taking off a
jacket. The three groups did not differ on the posttests, partly because the resistive
training group decreased and the functional group increased from midpoint to
posttest. However, a Hierarchical Linear Model analysis used to account for site
membership and individual growth curves in repeated measures revealed no
differences that could be attributed to group membership.
Resistive bands were not effective in increasing physical function in this
elderly population as their use appeared to require more strength and balance to
execute than this group could provide. Although well-being and physical selfefficacy
were related to physical function in these frail elderly adults, different
types of physical training did not significantly affect perceived well-being and
physical self-efficacy from the pretest to the posttest.
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