Diverse Exercises Similarly Reduce Older Adults’ Mobility Limitations

• Published in: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2019-09, Vol.51 (9), p.1809-1816
• Main Authors: TOLLÁR, JÓZSEF, NAGY, FERENC, MOIZS, MARIANN, TÓTH, BÉLA E, SANDERS, LIANNE M J, HORTOBÁGYI, TIBOR
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Bicycling - physiology; Blood Pressure - physiology; Body Mass Index; Comparative Effectiveness Research; Diet; Exercise Therapy - methods; Female; Heart Rate - physiology; High-Intensity Interval Training; Humans; Male; Mobility Limitation; Perception - physiology; Physical Exertion - physiology; Postural Balance - physiology; Quality of Life; Walking Speed - physiology
• ISSN: 0195-9131; 1530-0315
• DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002001

INTRODUCTION/PURPOSELittle is known about the comparative effectiveness of exercise programs, especially when delivered at a high intensity, in mobility-limited older adults. We compared the effects of 25 sessions of high-intensity agility exergaming (EXE) and stationary cycling (CYC) at the same cardiovascular load on measured and perceived mobility limitations, balance, and health-related quality of life in mobility-limited older adults. METHODSRandomized to EXE (n = 28) and CYC (n = 27), mobility-impaired older adults (age 70 yr) exercised five times per week for 5 wk at 80% of age-predicted maximal heart rate. Waitlisted controls did not exercise (n = 28). RESULTSGroups did not differ at baseline in any outcomes (P > 0.05). The primary outcomes (The Short Form-36-Health SurveyEXE, 6.9%; effect size, 2.2; CYC, 5.5%, 1.94; Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis IndexEXE, −27.2%, −3.83; CYC, −17.2, −2.90) improved similarly (P > 0.05). Secondary outcomes, including body mass (−3.7%), depression (−18%), and walking capacity (13.5%) also improved (P < 0.05) similarly after the two interventions. Activities of daily living, Berg Balance Score, BestTest scores, and Dynamic Gait Index improved more (P < 0.05) after EXE than CYC. Center of pressure of standing sway path improved in one of six tests only after EXE (P < 0.05). Postexercise cardiovascular response improved in EXE (P = 0.019). CON did not change in any outcomes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONSWhen matched for cardiovascular and perceived effort, two diverse high-intensity exercise programs improved health-related quality of life, perceived mobility limitation, and walking capacity similarly and balance outcomes more in mobility-limited older adults, expanding these older adults’ evidence-based exercise options to reduce mobility limitations.