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The Effects of an Aerobic Exercise Program on Mobility, Fall Efficacy, Balance, and Stress in the Elderly at Senior Centers

Article information

Res Community Public Health Nurs. 2012;23(1):22-30
Publication date (electronic) : 2012 March 31
doi : https://doi.org/10.0000/jkachn.2012.23.1.22
Su Kyung Chu1, Chung Yul Lee2, Jang Hak Yoo3
1Professor, College of Nursing, Eulji University, Seongnam, Korea.
2Professor, College of Nursing, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
3Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Daebul University, Yeongam, Korea.
Corresponding author: Yoo, Jang Hak. Department of Nursing, Daebul University, 72-1 Sanho-ri, Samho-eup, Youngam 526-702, Korea. Tel: +82-61-469-1308, Fax: +82-61-469-1317, janghryu@hanmail.net
Received 2011 September 15; Revised 2012 February 29; Accepted 2012 February 29.

Abstract

Purpose

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of an aerobic exercise program on mobility, fall efficacy, balance, and stress in the elderly at senior centers.

Methods

This research was conducted as a quasi-experimental pretest and posttest control and experimental comparison study. The subjects were 41 senior residents (Exp.=18, Cont.=23) who aged above 65 at senior centers in S City. The period of time for data collection and intervention was from August 25 to December 5, 2008.

Results

Mobility (t=-3.10, p<.01) in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group without an aerobic exercise program. However, fall efficacy (t=1.28, p=.207), balance (t=-.53, p=.602; t=.36, p=.723), stress (t=-1.32, p=.199) in the experimental group was not significantly higher than that in the control group.

Conclusion

These findings confirmed that aerobic exercise programs make a contribution to improving mobility in the elderly at senior centers.

Keywords: Mobility limitation; Accidental falls; Postural balance; Life stress; Elderly

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Article information Continued

Copyright © 2012 Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing

Figure 1

Figure 1

Aerobic exercise program.

Table 1

Homogeneity in the Characteristics of the Experimental and Control Group

Table 1

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

Table 2

Effects of Aerobic Exercise Program on Mobility, Efficacy of Falls, Balance, and Stress

Table 2

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.