The Effects of a Multidimensional Exercise Program on Health Behavior and Biopsychological Factors in Mexican Older Adults

Abstract

Background: The population of older adults is increasing worldwide, which brings attention to the importance of healthy aging. Adoption of healthy lifestyle activities such as participating in physical activity on a daily basis is key to maintaining physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of participation in a 12-week multidimensional exercise program on health behavior and biopsychological factors of older adults living in Northeastern Mexico. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 45 older adults (35 females and 10 males; M = 67.24 ± 5.73 years). The participants were assigned to an experimental group (EG; n = 23) that participated in a 12-week exercise program and a control group (CG; n = 22). Pre-and post-analyses of the exercise intervention data were carried out to investigate the participants' health-related variables including physical activity levels, blood pressure, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and blood lipids profiles. Results: The results indicated that the exercise intervention contributed to significant improvements in the older adults' health-related variables for the EG when contrasted with the control group. For instance, the EG significantly improved systolic (p < 0.001) and diastolic (p < 0.027) blood pressure, blood lipids [e.g., cholesterol (p < 0.05)], triglycerides (p < 0.05), self-esteem (p < 0.005), and depressive symptoms (p < 0.002) as well as physical activity (p < 0.001) levels. The results also demonstrated that only those individuals in the EG diagnosed with disease benefited from improved self-esteem and physical activity levels when contrasted with their healthy counterparts.

Community-based mental health and well-being interventions for older adults in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…conducted Malaysia quasi-experimental, controlled study 63 older adults aged 60 and over recruited from three different villages. (a) exercise and behavioural program group ( n = 18), (b) exercise only group ( n = 23), and (c) control group ( n = 22) Exercise: three sessions per week, each session of 1 h for 6 weeks Behavioural programme: two times per week for 5 weeks advised to continue with their normal routines Malay version of the GDS – Depression; SF-12 Health Survey – Health-related quality of life 12 weeks and 24 weeks Significant main effect only in the level of depression among the three groups for Health-related quality of life, a significant main effect was found on the physical and mental component score Borbon-Castro et al (2019) [ 42 ] In a multidimensional exercise program, exercise classes were offered 5 days a week for 12 weeks with a total of 60 sessions. Each session lasted for 60 min, including a warm-up, a variety of exercises, and cool-down.…”

“…The interventions were predominantly delivered by health or social care professionals ( n = 11) [ 8 , 9 , 26 , 30 , 34 , 40 , 46 – 50 , 53 ], trained lay volunteers ( n = 5) [ 39 , 54 , 56 , 57 , 60 ] and research team members with a lack of qualification description [ 10 , 21 , 22 , 25 , 29 , 31 , 33 , 35 – 38 , 41 , 45 ]. In the Carandang et al [ 43 ] study, the intervention involved the older adults themselves participating in a volunteer activity (assist in behaviour change and engaging with community) whereas Borbon-Castro et al [ 42 ] involved Higher Education students in physical activity and sport discipline. In the remaining studies, there were no information about who delivered the intervention [ 7 , 27 , 28 , 32 , 44 , 51 , 52 , 58 ].…”

Towards a Holistic Approach to Studying Human–Robot Interaction in Later Life

“…The literature also suggests that as age increases, older adults are typically more physically and sometimes cognitively challenged (Hammer et al, 2010), and that in comparison to older men, older women have lower levels of physical functioning (Krok et al, 2013). Additionally, engagement in physical activity is more important for older adults who are more educated (Borbón-Castro et al, 2020). The video's impression on study participants who were men, younger, and highly educated may have been that Gymmy is not physically and cognitively challenging enough.…”

Biopsychosocial Characteristics of Elderly Adults of Latin America: Strategies of Physical Activity for the Functional Health

“…The World Health Organization promotes the active aging through the practice of physical activities by a minimum of 30 minutes per day [63], which is due to organize in a program of physical exercise according to the functional capacity of the elderly adults, specifying the type of exercise, intensity, volume and frequency [64], besides to orient on the structure that must have the session of exercises and use materials readily accessible in the home. In attention to these recommendations it is considered pertinent to use multicomponent programs by its positive impact in the functionality and the improvement of the physical capacities of aerobic resistance, force, balance, agility and amplitude to articulate, besides to contain activities that stimulate the cognitive functions and help to improve the mental health [65][66][67]. Proceeding, we will summarize the recommendations to prescribe physical activities in the home for elderly adults:…”