Purpose : The present quasi-experimental study investigated the efficacy of an exercise class at a community clinic for middle-aged and elderly patients with lifestyle-related diseases who were being treated at the clinic.
Methods : The study examined two groups of subjects : an intervention group of 56 patients who participated in the exercise class and a control group of 56 outpatients matched with the intervention group for age, gender, and BMI. Lifestyle-related disease indicators, physical activity, behavior modification stage, exercise-induced changes in subjective symptoms, and change in lifestyle were assessed. Ranging from mild to moderate in intensity, the exercise regimen consisted primarily of aerobic exercises, with some resistance exercises. No restrictions were placed on number of repetitions or duration of exercise.
Results : Significant declines in BMI, blood pressure, and HbA
1c were observed in the intervention group. Physical activity for the intervention group increased by an average of 5.9 METs·hours/week. The subjects reported significant improvements in behavior modification stage and gave high marks for the exercise-induced changes in subjective symptoms.
Conclusions : For middle-aged and elderly patients with lifestyle-related diseases, participation in an exercise class held at a community clinic visited periodically by the patients improved behavior modification stage, BMI, blood pressure, and HbA
1c. The results suggest that exercise classes held at community outpatient clinics visited at regular intervals by patients can be useful in improving lifestyle-related diseases.
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