Issn Print: 0195-9131
Publication Date: 1997/05/01
EXERCISE TRAINING WITH AND WITHOUT WRIST WEIGHTS IN OLDER ADULTS: EFFECT ON FLEXIBILITY, BODY FAT, AND PEAK PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES928
H.-J. Engels; W. Zhu; J. Drouin; D. Timpf; A. Trumbull; P. Percer; J. F. Kazmierski
Excerpt
This study examined changes in flexibility, body fatness, and peak physiological responses during graded maximal exercise following 10 weeks of supervised exercise training with and without the regular use of light wrist weights (1.5 lbs·wrist-1). Twenty-three older adults were randomly assigned to wrist weight (n=12) and no-wrist weight (n=11) training groups while 11 matched subjects served as non-exercise control (Age: 68.6±5.6). Exercise training (3 × per week for 60 min/session) consisted of moderate intensity, low-impact aerobic dance (50-70% of HRmax for 15-30 min) combined with specific exercises to improve flexibility, balance, and muscular fitness. Before and after the training program, flexibility was evaluated by goniometry (shoulder, elbow, hip, knee) and the Sit-And-Reach test. Body fatness was estimated from skinfold thicknesses at seven standard sites. Peak physiological responses during maximal treadmill exercise were determined by open circuit spirometry methods using the modified Balke protocol. Repeated measures MANOVA revealed a significant pre-post training increase in VO2peak(ml·kg-1·min-1) in both exercise groups(p<0.05). Peak heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and RER were not changed (p>0.05). Similarly, no pre-post differences in flexibility measures, the sum of seven skinfolds, and body weight were noted(p>0.05). The regular use of light wrist weights during exercise training had no effect on any of the variables studied (p>0.05). It is concluded that 10 weeks of moderate intensity, low-impact exercise training provides an adequate stimulus to produce modest gains in aerobic power in older adults who exercise with and without wrist weights.
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