Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 159 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-94).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-63). Also available on the Internet.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a 5 week program of aquatic exercise on selected cardiorespiratory parameters in the elderly participant. Fifteen men and women (mean age 68.5 years, range 61-75 years) were recruited voluntarily from regional adult day-care and community centre facilities. Participants underwent a series of physiological tests before the program started and 5 weeks later at the end of the program. Measurements included height, weight, spirometry measurements (FVC, FEV¹ֹ⁰, VEmax), resting blood pressure, resting heart rate, exercise heart rate and VO₂max as determined by a continuous treadmill test (modified after Jones and Campbell, 1982). Following the 5 week aquatic exercise program, the experimental group (n = 8) showed a significant decrease in resting systolic blood pressure (SBPR) (EXPTL:131.5<CTRL:133.4 mmHg) and resting heart rate (HR rest) (EXPTL:71.0<CTRL:76.6 btsּmin⁻¹) in comparison to the control group (n = 7) which exhibited no change. In addition, the experimental group yielded a significant increase in forced expiratory volume (FEV¹ֹ⁰) (EXPTL:2.4>CTRL:2.2 1ּsec⁻¹) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max ) (EXPTL:25.8>CTRL:23.5 mlּkg⁻¹ּmin⁻¹ ) in comparison to the control group. The findings in this study indicate that the exercise capacity of the elderly participant can increase with aquatic exercise: supervised aquatic exercise at or above the recommended intensity of exercise performed three times weekly can produce significant changes in the physical work capacity of the elderly / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

Context: There is a paucity of information on well-designed exercise programs for the Primary Falls Prevention. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate a tailor-made exercise program for improving balance and balance-related fitness among older adults without history of falls but who were at risk of falling. Design, Setting, and Participants: A single-blind and randomized controlled trial for 61 older adults (age = 70 ± 3 years, males = 25%) with no history of falls but who were at risk of falling enrolled at the local senior center. Intervention: Participants were randomly allocated into three groups. An intervention group receiving a tailor-made Exercise for Balance Improvement Program (ExBP; n = 20), an active control group receiving the 8-form Yang-style Tai Chi (TC; n = 20), and a no-treatment concurrent control group (CON; n = 21). The ExBP was developed based on demographic and clinical characteristics of old adults as well as on the most reported deficits in balance and balance-related systems. The movements chosen in ExBP were those used in previous studies for older adults. The movements were integrated with considerations of movement specificity, movement complexity and organization, movement safety, feasibility and gracefulness, as well as the transfer of exercise learning. Modifications of these movements were made following experts and end-users’ evaluations. Training dosage was set at “90 minutes per session x 3 sessions per week x 16 weeks with an 8-week follow-up. Outcome Measurements: The primary outcome was a composite measure of balance capacities, including Fall Risk Test (FRT), Postural Stability Test (PST), Limits of Stability Test (LOS), and a modified Clinical Test of Sensory Organization and Balance (m-CTSIB). The secondary outcomes referred to those balance-related fitness including 30s Chair Stand Test (CS), Chair Sit-and-Reach Test (SR), 8ft Up and Go Test (UG), 2min Step Test (Step), Choice Stepping Response Time (CSRT), as well as Fear of Falling (FF). All the testing parameters were collected one week before the intervention (pre-test), at the end of 12th week (mid-test), at the end of 16th week (post-test), and at the end of 24th week (follow-up test). Analysis of variance with pre-test data as covariance and repeated measures analysis of variance were conducted to examine Group effect and Time effect, respectively. Results: All testing parameters in the ExBP group demonstrated an improvement trend from pre-test to post-test, especially in FRT, m-CTSIB, CS, SR, UG, and FF (p < .05). In comparison with the CON group at post-test, there were significant improvements in the ExBP group in FRT, m-CTSIB with compromised somatosensation, m-CTSIB with compromised vision and somatosensation, CS, UG, Step, and FES (p < .05), while the improvements at mid-test were only shown in UG and FF. There were no significant differences on any of the testing parameters between post-test and follow-up test. In addition, continuous improvements were shown in FRT, PST, m-CTSIB, SR, UG, CSRT, and FF during the follow-up period. In comparison with the TC group at mid-test, ExBP showed significantly more improvements in FRT, UG, Step and FF. Although without statistically significant group difference at post-test except in Step, improvements in FRT, PST in anterior-and-posterior direction, m-CTSIB with compromised somatosensation, m-CTSIB with compromised vision and somatosensation, SR, UG, Step, and CSRT were more pronounced in the ExBP group. The losses of training effect from post-test to follow-up test in ExBP was lower than the Tai Chi especially in FRT, m-CTSIB with compromised vision and somatosensation, Step, and CSRT. Conclusion: The ExBP can be applied as an effective exercise program for improving balance and balance-related fitness among older adults at risk of falling. In comparison with Tai Chi, training effects from ExBP occurred earlier and lasted longer.

The motivational elements necessary to encourage use of fitness trails by residents of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) was investigated. Previous research suggested that both the walking and exercise parts of these fitness trails are being used by only a small percentage of' the residents. A checklist was used to identify the number of motivational elements that were present in the design of the fitness trails at three CCRCs. A staff questionnaire was used to determine management involvement and fitness program specifics. This research investigates the extent to which Jane Jacobs’ (1961) work with sidewalks in cities can be applied to the fitness trail within the CCRC. The research questions generated for this study were: To what extent is the success of the fitness trail dependent on the intricate mutual support given it by its surrounding elements? Does a single activity or amenity contribute to the success of a fitness trail or is a variety of choices necessary for potential users to experience? Is this aspect of choice essential to participant satisfaction? The analysis identified several elements that may contribute to the use of a fitness trail by older adults. The use of the concept of tangible rewards by one of the CCRCs contributed to a significantly greater percentage of resident use. / Master of Landscape Architecture

Thesis (M.S.)--East Carolina University, 2009. / Presented to the faculty of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Advisor: Scott E. Gordon. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed May 4, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

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The purpose of this study was to ascertain the mediating effect of two types of goal setting conditions (self-set and assigned set goals) on exercise intensity, exercise efficacy and perceived physical ability of efficacious older adults participating in a fitness program. In addition, this study examined the extent to which the four sources of self-efficacy influenced walking self-efficacy and perceived physical ability. Sixteen older adults, who were participating in a fitness program, were randomly assigned to either the self-set or assigned set goal condition. The self-set group selected an exercise intensity (i.e., target heart rate range) each week prior to the walking bout, while the assigned set group were designated an exercise intensity (i.e., target heart rate range) each week before their walking session. The same walking duration was implemented for both goal groups throughout the eight-week goal-setting program. Heart rate monitors were used to collect information on exercise intensity. In week one, walking self-efficacy (WSE), exercise intensity and perceived physical ability (PPA) were collected. For weeks two through seven WSE, exercise intensity, goal setting post-questionnaire (only for the assigned group) were collected. In week eight, WSE, PPA, exercise intensity, and sources of self-efficacy were collected. The results revealed that goal condition had no significant effect on exercise intensity, perceived physical ability, and walking self-efficacy. However, this study assisted participants in becoming more aware of their heart rate (exercise intensity) by observing their heart rate monitors. / School of Physical Education