The Potential Win-win Strategy for Healthy Aging and Environmental Protection: Environmental Volunteering

Abstract

Purpose To explore the physical activity level of community environmental volunteering (CEV) participants and the differences in physical functions and daily activity patterns between the older adults who engaged in intensive CEV (≥15 hours/week) and non-intensive CEV (<15 hours/week) groups. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Three recycling stations in Taiwan. Sample In total, 113 community-dwelling older adults who regularly participated in CEV. The response rate was 53%. Measures The ActiGraph wGT3x-BT accelerometer for the percentage of sedentary, light, and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) of CEV time and awaken time; the Jamar hand dynamometer for grip strength; and the MicroFET3 muscle testing dynamometer for knee extension strength. Analysis Analysis of covariance with the baseline characteristics as covariates. Results Overall, MVPA, light, and sedentary activities accounted for 53.73%, 41.10%, and 5.23% of CEV time, respectively. The intensive group (n = 61) displayed greater dominant handgrip strength ( P = .004) and higher MVPA percentage in daily life ( P = .044) than the non-intensive group (n = 52). Conclusion CEV provides sufficient opportunities for older adults to perform physical activity. Intensive CEV is related to greater handgrip strength but not lower limb strength. Further study is needed to establish the causal relationship between CEV and health variates.

Effects of Chinese fitness dancing on lower limb strength and fall risk in middle‐aged and older women: A cross‐sectional study

“…The maximum muscle strength of the extensor muscle group in the lower limbs of participants was measured using a MicroFET3 portable muscle strength tester (MicroFET3, USA) (Hung et al, 2022). The tested leg was suspended with the participant in a seated position, and the MicroFET3 portable muscle tester was placed 5 cm proximal to the lower end of the tibia.…”

Status of resource recycling stations in Taiwan and recycling work-related health effects

“…Compared with other resource recycling stations in Taiwan, the Tzu Chi Foundation’s environmental volunteers tend to be older. The 2020 study shows that the average age of Tzu Chi environmental volunteers is approximately 73 years [ 4 ]. For other resource recycling stations from 2014 to 2018, the maximum age group for volunteers was 60–69 years old [ 5 6 ], while the major age group of environmental protection volunteers in Hsinchu County was 50–59 years old [ 7 ].…”