Vijay R Varma1, Erwin J Tan2, Alden L Gross3, Greg Harris4, William Romani5, Linda P Fried6, George W Rebok4, Michelle C Carlson4. 1. Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland. Electronic address: vvarma1@jhu.edu. 2. The Corporation for National and Community Service, Washington, District of Columbia. 3. Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland. 4. Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland. 5. AARP, Inc., Washington, District of Columbia. 6. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:Older adults with a high number of chronic conditions and who live in environments that do not promote physical activity have great difficulty initiating and adhering to exercise programs. Novel lifestyle activity interventions that can effectively increase physical activity may address disparities in health in these populations. This study evaluates the effects of the Baltimore Experience Corps program, a community-based volunteer program, on walking activity in older adults. METHODS: The Baltimore Experience Corps Trial is a sex-stratified RCT that recruited participants from 2006 to 2009. Older adult participants aged ≥60 years (n=123) were from a nested objective physical activity trial within the larger Baltimore Experience Corps Trial. Participants randomized to the intervention group were placed as volunteers within the Baltimore public school system for 2 years. The primary study outcome was objectively measured total amount of walking activity measured in steps/day. Differences between intervention and control groups were measured at 12 and 24 months using linear mixed effects models. Data were analyzed in 2014. RESULTS: At 24 months, women, but not men, in the intervention group showed an increased amount of walking activity, averaging 1,500.3 (95% CI=77.6, 2,922.9) greater steps/day compared with the control group. Women in the control group showed a decline of 1,191.6 (95% CI=-2243.7, -139.5) steps/day at 24 months compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: A community-based volunteer intervention increased walking activity among older women, who were at elevated risk for both inactivity and adverse health outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00380562.
RCT Entities:
INTRODUCTION: Older adults with a high number of chronic conditions and who live in environments that do not promote physical activity have great difficulty initiating and adhering to exercise programs. Novel lifestyle activity interventions that can effectively increase physical activity may address disparities in health in these populations. This study evaluates the effects of the Baltimore Experience Corps program, a community-based volunteer program, on walking activity in older adults. METHODS: The Baltimore Experience Corps Trial is a sex-stratified RCT that recruited participants from 2006 to 2009. Older adult participants aged ≥60 years (n=123) were from a nested objective physical activity trial within the larger Baltimore Experience Corps Trial. Participants randomized to the intervention group were placed as volunteers within the Baltimore public school system for 2 years. The primary study outcome was objectively measured total amount of walking activity measured in steps/day. Differences between intervention and control groups were measured at 12 and 24 months using linear mixed effects models. Data were analyzed in 2014. RESULTS: At 24 months, women, but not men, in the intervention group showed an increased amount of walking activity, averaging 1,500.3 (95% CI=77.6, 2,922.9) greater steps/day compared with the control group. Women in the control group showed a decline of 1,191.6 (95% CI=-2243.7, -139.5) steps/day at 24 months compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: A community-based volunteer intervention increased walking activity among older women, who were at elevated risk for both inactivity and adverse health outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00380562.
Authors: Paul D Thompson; David Buchner; Ileana L Pina; Gary J Balady; Mark A Williams; Bess H Marcus; Kathy Berra; Steven N Blair; Fernando Costa; Barry Franklin; Gerald F Fletcher; Neil F Gordon; Russell R Pate; Beatriz L Rodriguez; Antronette K Yancey; Nanette K Wenger Journal: Circulation Date: 2003-06-24 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Michelle C Carlson; Julie H Kuo; Yi-Fang Chuang; Vijay R Varma; Greg Harris; Marilyn S Albert; Kirk I Erickson; Arthur F Kramer; Jeanine M Parisi; Qian-Li Xue; Eriwn J Tan; Elizabeth K Tanner; Alden L Gross; Teresa E Seeman; Tara L Gruenewald; Sylvia McGill; George W Rebok; Linda P Fried Journal: Alzheimers Dement Date: 2015-03-31 Impact factor: 21.566
Authors: J E Manson; E B Rimm; M J Stampfer; G A Colditz; W C Willett; A S Krolewski; B Rosner; C H Hennekens; F E Speizer Journal: Lancet Date: 1991-09-28 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Jennifer Weuve; Jae Hee Kang; JoAnn E Manson; Monique M B Breteler; James H Ware; Francine Grodstein Journal: JAMA Date: 2004-09-22 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Linda P Fried; Michelle C Carlson; Marc Freedman; Kevin D Frick; Thomas A Glass; Joel Hill; Sylvia McGill; George W Rebok; Teresa Seeman; James Tielsch; Barbara A Wasik; Scott Zeger Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2004-03 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Thomas A Glass; Marc Freedman; Michelle C Carlson; Joel Hill; Kevin D Frick; Nick Ialongo; Sylvia McGill; George W Rebok; Teresa Seeman; James M Tielsch; Barbara A Wasik; Scott Zeger; Linda P Fried Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2004-03 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Julene K Johnson; Anita L Stewart; Michael Acree; Anna M Nápoles; Jason D Flatt; Wendy B Max; Steven E Gregorich Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2020-02-14 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Ryan M Andrews; Erwin J Tan; Vijay R Varma; George W Rebok; William A Romani; Teresa E Seeman; Tara L Gruenewald; Elizabeth K Tanner; Michelle C Carlson Journal: Gerontologist Date: 2017-08-01