A Program of Balanced Physical Fitness in the Preventive Care of Elderly Ambulatory Patients

Abstract

A program of balanced physical fitness incorporated into a medical “team” approach to treatment contributed significantly to the general health of elderly ambulatory patients. Each week for eleven months, 13 patients were given one hour of balanced exercise and encouraged to perform it for two additional hours per week. Initial differences favoring the control group (13 subjects) in their general state of health were reversed during the exercise program. Physicians’ single‐blind assessment of the two groups resulted in significantly better health ratings for the patients who had received the therapeutic exercise program than for those who did not participate.

Health and Medical Care for the Elderly and Aged Population: The State of the Evidence†

“…Of the nearly 1,000remaining studies, many had no correctable defects; a randomized or other type of controlled trial was not considered possible. Some studies of health services used other methods to compare a control and treatment group, but each had design defects serious enough to cast doubt on the results and conclusions (4)(5)(6). (References 4-17 are only a few examples of each type of trial described).…”

Role of Physical Therapists in Physical Activity Programs in Nursing Homes: A Survey

“…Walking, calisthenics, and rhythmic movements such as riding a stationary bicycle were typical modes of exercise in these studies. Improvement in numerous areas, particularly functional mobility, strength, and the cardiovascular-respiratory systems led to an increased sense of well-being (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25).…”