OBJECTIVE: To examine 5-year trends in measures of physical performance, and the impact of disease upon performance, in three domains: cardiovascular fitness, musculo-skeletal strength, and flexibility among older adults participating in a medically supervised exercise program. DESIGN: Longitudinal analyses of data obtained in an observational cohort study. SETTING: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-three community-dwelling veterans between 64 and 90 years of age. INTERVENTION: Voluntary participation in a medically supervised outpatient exercise program meeting 3 days per week for 90 minutes per session. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes over time in cardiovascular fitness, musculoskeletal strength, and flexibility. RESULTS: Forty-nine percent of the original study participants remained in the program for a full 5 years. They had lower baseline rates of cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal diseases than did the dropouts. Dropouts were significantly more impaired in baseline measures of cardiovascular fitness (P = .038) and strength (P = .007). Changes over time for cardiovascular fitness and strength were similar. Only linear (P < .05) and quadratic time (P < .001) were significant. Only linear time was significant for measures of flexibility (P < .05). Baseline cardiorespiratory disease, baseline musculoskeletal disease, and interaction terms were not significant. Overall, measures of physical performance demonstrated gradual improvement for 2 to 3 years, followed by a gradual decline in performance irrespective of baseline disease status. CONCLUSION: Older adults who exercise regularly, including those with multiple chronic diseases, can achieve significant gains in measures of physical performance, and these gains can be sustained for 2 to 3 years.
OBJECTIVE: To examine 5-year trends in measures of physical performance, and the impact of disease upon performance, in three domains: cardiovascular fitness, musculo-skeletal strength, and flexibility among older adults participating in a medically supervised exercise program. DESIGN: Longitudinal analyses of data obtained in an observational cohort study. SETTING: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-three community-dwelling veterans between 64 and 90 years of age. INTERVENTION: Voluntary participation in a medically supervised outpatient exercise program meeting 3 days per week for 90 minutes per session. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes over time in cardiovascular fitness, musculoskeletal strength, and flexibility. RESULTS: Forty-nine percent of the original study participants remained in the program for a full 5 years. They had lower baseline rates of cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal diseases than did the dropouts. Dropouts were significantly more impaired in baseline measures of cardiovascular fitness (P = .038) and strength (P = .007). Changes over time for cardiovascular fitness and strength were similar. Only linear (P < .05) and quadratic time (P < .001) were significant. Only linear time was significant for measures of flexibility (P < .05). Baseline cardiorespiratory disease, baseline musculoskeletal disease, and interaction terms were not significant. Overall, measures of physical performance demonstrated gradual improvement for 2 to 3 years, followed by a gradual decline in performance irrespective of baseline disease status. CONCLUSION: Older adults who exercise regularly, including those with multiple chronic diseases, can achieve significant gains in measures of physical performance, and these gains can be sustained for 2 to 3 years.
Authors: Miriam C Morey; Cathy C Lee; Steven Castle; Willy M Valencia; Leslie Katzel; Jamie Giffuni; Teresa Kopp; Heather Cammarata; Michelle McDonald; Kris A Oursler; Timothy Wamsley; Chani Jain; Janet P Bettger; Megan Pearson; Kenneth M Manning; Orna Intrator; Peter Veazie; Richard Sloane; Jiejin Li; Daniel C Parker Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2018-02-12 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Stephen C Jennings; Kenneth M Manning; Janet Prvu Bettger; Katherine M Hall; Megan Pearson; Catalin Mateas; Brandon C Briggs; Krisann K Oursler; Erin Blanchard; Cathy C Lee; Steven Castle; Willy M Valencia; Leslie I Katzel; Jamie Giffuni; Teresa Kopp; Michelle McDonald; Rebekah Harris; Jonathan F Bean; Katherine Althuis; Neil B Alexander; Kalpana P Padala; Lauren M Abbate; Toby Wellington; James Kostra; Kelly Allsup; Daniel E Forman; Arti S Tayade; Alan D Wesley; Alice Holder; Miriam C Morey Journal: Gerontol Geriatr Med Date: 2020-12-14
Authors: Marc J Pepin; Willy M Valencia; Janet Prvu Bettger; Megan Pearson; Kenneth M Manning; Richard Sloane; Kenneth E Schmader; Miriam C Morey Journal: Gerontol Geriatr Med Date: 2020-09-19