What is the intensity of exercise sessions of a physical exercise program for older adults?

Abstract The objectives of this study were to describe and determine the intensity of sessions of a physical exercise program (PEP) for older adults developed within the primary healthcare network of Florianópolis, and to compare the intensity of the sessions between groups using three cutoffs. Eight sessions involving 31 older adults divided into groups I and group II were analyzed. The total time spent during the sessions was considered. Intensity was measured with a triaxial accelerometer and classified according to three different cutoffs. Sociodemographic data, perceived health status, functional fitness, nutritional status and physical activity level at the beginning of the program were also evaluated. The majority of older adults was insufficiently active, was overweight, had low functional fitness, and reported that their health status did not impair physical activity. The mean time spent in moderate physical activity ranged from 1.4 and 16.3 min in group I and from 6.6 and 23.2 min in group II, with the difference being significant. The mean time spent in sedentary activities was 18.7 and 20.5 min for groups I and II, respectively. The findings suggest that the PEP sessions mainly consisted of light or sedentary activities and that the short time spent in more intense activities might be related to the characteristics of the group and to the teaching method adopted by the professionals.

摘要 本研究旨在描述并确定弗洛里亚诺波利斯初级医疗网络内开展的老年人体育锻炼项目（Physical Exercise Program, PEP）的课程强度，并采用三种临界值对不同组间的课程强度进行比较。本次分析共纳入8节课程，涉及31名老年人，分为I组与II组。研究统计了课程总耗时，运动强度通过三轴加速度计（triaxial accelerometer）进行测量，并依据三种不同临界值进行分类。此外，本研究还评估了项目启动时的社会人口学数据、自我感知健康状况、功能体能、营养状态以及身体活动水平。结果显示，多数老年人身体活动不足、超重、功能体能低下，且自述其健康状况未对身体活动造成阻碍。I组中等强度身体活动的平均时长介于1.4至16.3分钟，II组则介于6.6至23.2分钟，组间差异具有统计学意义。I组和II组的久坐活动平均时长分别为18.7分钟与20.5分钟。研究结果表明，该PEP课程主要以轻强度活动或久坐活动为主，而高强度活动耗时较短的现象，可能与受试群体特征及专业人员采用的教学方法相关。