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Helping
Seniors Stay Fit
Older adults at risk for heart disease can improve their
exercise habits when they receive behavioral counseling
combined with exercise therapy, says a Wake Forest University
study.
The study found older adults who received that combination
increased their amount of weekly exercise by as much as
45 minutes a week compared to older adults who only exercise.
The counseling portion of the combination approach encourages
the older adults to be more physically active at home, in
addition to their more formal exercise sessions with trained
medical staff. The study suggests this counseling may help
the older adults become more confident in their ability
to exercise on their own.
The study was published in the July 2003 issue of Health
Psychology.
The researchers say finding ways to encourage older adults
to exercise on their own is important because most health
insurers support only a limited number of hours of exercise
treatment for people recovering from cardiovascular disease.
Also, once participants leave the structure of formal care,
they quickly return to sedentary lifestyles.
The study included 123 people, aged 50 to 80, with previous
heart problems or several risk factors for heart disease.
They were all inactive and unable to complete daily activities
such as short walks or stair-climbing.
The study volunteers were divided into two groups. One group
took part in supervised exercise sessions and were given
short lectures on preventing further heart disease. The
second group received the same exercise and lecture program,
along with group counseling.
At the end of the study, the counseled group performed better
on a treadmill test, increased their confidence in walking,
and reported a bigger increase in weekly physical activity.
Here's where you can learn more
about exercise for older adults.
Article Source: HealthDay
Article Author: N/A
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