The purpose of this study was to determine whether the 5 stages of change identified in the transtheoretical model (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983) accurately describe stages of adopting exercise and strength training behaviors among older adults; and to test if the variables of age, gender, education, current level of physical activity, and health problems are accurate measures of predicting stage. Participants included 277 residents of 6 continuing care retirement communities in a midwestern state. A site administered survey instrument used a modified Stages of Change Instrument (Marcus, Selby, Niaura, & Rossi, 1992); the Health Status Inventory (Gorely & Gordon, 1995); and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly° (Washburn, Smith, Jette, & Janney, 1993).The study was the first to test whether the 5 stages could be found for strength training, an exercise type. All 5 stages of change were present in both exercise and strength training behaviors but in differing proportions. Results suggest the need to design different strategies to move persons from one stage to another for strength training and exercise. The majority of participants were consistent exercisers as 52% were in maintenance, the stage where people are exercising regularly and have been for longer than six months. The most promising result found 16% in the maintenance stage for strength training behavior with 53% in contemplation, the stage where people are thinking about beginning.A logistic regression analysis was used to conclude that current level of physical activity and number of health problems have some predictive accuracy for stages to adopt exercise and strength training behaviors. The variables of age, gender, and education were not found to be predictive in this study. / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of this investigation was to examine differences under resting conditions (baseline) and after a bout of resistance exercise, in the total amount and the activation (phosphorylation) of the p42/44 MAPK signaling cascade proteins (ERK 1/2, p90RSK, and MNK 1) in young and old men. Eight young (22±1 yr) and eight old (79±3 yr) men underwent a resting muscle biopsy of the vastus lateralis, then a knee extensor resistance exercise session (29 contractions at -70% of max), followed by a post-exercise biopsy. The total protein expression and phosphorylation state for ERK 1/2, p90RSK, and MNK 1 was determined by Western immunoblot analysis. Total protein expression of ERK 1/2 and MNK 1 were not different between the young and old, before and after exercise. The resistance exercise bout caused an increase in phosphorylation of the ERK 1/2, p90RSK, and MNK 1 proteins (73, 95, and 61%, respectively; P<0.05) in the young men. Conversely, the older men showed a decrease in ERK 1/2, p90RSK, and MNK1 phosphorylation (-48, -62, and -37%, respectively; P<0.05) after the exercise bout (versus old pre). Although, the old men displayed higher pre-exercise phosphorylation of these proteins versus young pre-exercise (131, 248, and 74%, respectively; P<0.05). This investigation is the first to provide evidence that MAPK signaling pathways differentially respond under resting and exercise conditions in skeletal muscle of young and old men. These findings may have implications for other processes (e.g. transcription and translation) involved in skeletal muscle type and growth, when examining the changes occurring with aging muscle before and after resistance exercise/training. / School of Physical Education

Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 1996

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Victoria University (Melbourne, Vic.), 2008.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2008. / Includes appendix Title from PDF title page (viewed May 26, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 34-37)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-103). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-103). Also available on the Internet.

No description available.

This study employed the grounded theory methodology suggested by Strauss and Corbin (1990) to analyze and explore the meaning of and motivation for mall walking among a group of older, rural, independently living adults. Interviews were conducted with 14 respondents aged 62-81 and participant observation was conducted at a rural mall. Mall walking was initially motivated by three conditions: (a) expert-directed advice, (b) self-determined goals, and (c) the invitation of significant others. Four major factors encouraged continued participation in mall walking: (a) the need to create work roles after retirement, (b) fear due to perceived vulnerability in the community, (c) social supports from family and peers, and (d) a sense of membership in a community of older adults that was generally time and place specific. Members of this mall community shared activities, routines, rituals, beliefs, and a sense of belonging. Despite medical disorders, all of the respondents said their health was good. After initially responding to medical advice to walk, walkers paid little or no attention to medical problems. These older adults did not continue to mall walk in response to expert medical direction. This finding suggests that health promoting activities should not rely on the continuing influence of medical advice to encourage adherence or ongoing participation in health promoting activities, and should instead attend to the social constructs of health and wellness. An important implication for future research is the finding that mall walking was a quasi-work activity, not exercise. Walkers created "work" routines and roles that replaced those lost upon retirement. The equation of mall walking with work has implications for both the design and the implementation of health promoting activities for older adults. / Ph. D.

Eight sedentary elderly subjects (X̅ age = 83.4yr), including two males and six females, were evaluated to determine the effects of a low intensity, chair-based exercise program on selected physiological parameters. Exercise sessions were held 3 alternate days per week, 45 minutes per session, for 8 weeks. Subjects were exercise tested before and after training using a modification of the Smith and Gilligan chair step test; this is a multi-level graded exercise test suitable for very old subjects with aerobic exercise capacities of approximately 2-4 METs. Upon completion of training, group data analyses showed no significant adaptations in resting heart rate or blood pressure, exercise heart rate or blood pressure, peak exercise performance, nor for subject rating of perceived exertion at a fixed exercise intensity. A significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed post-training in the immediate post-exercise blood lactic acid response. Separating subjects (n=4) into high (91% attendance) and moderate (49% attendance) compliers, statistically significant differences were found for training related changes in several physiological parameters. Between-group analysis also showed significant changes (p < 0.05) in the chair exercise performance time. Post-training, the high compliers improved their total exercise tolerance (time) by 33%, whereas the moderate compliers exercise time was 22% less as compared to pre-training. A significant difference (p < 0.05) was also observed between groups in their perception of effort at a fixed-load in the exercise test. After training, the high compliers judged their effort to be 12% less at a fixed load in the chair exercise test, while the moderate compliers showed no significant changes (p < 0.05). Blood lactic acid responses were significantly higher (p < 0.05) after training for the high compliance group but no such change was found in the HLa response of the moderate compliers. There were no significant changes in resting or exercise heart rate and blood pressure responses in either the high or moderate compliance groups. The results of this study suggest that physiological adaptations do not occur in old individuals in response to a low intensity exercise program. Given these preliminary findings, further investigations are indicated to determine the effects of increased frequency and duration of physical activity programs on additional physiological parameters. / Master of Science