Study of the effects of multimodal exercise program on physical fitness and health perception in community-living Hungarian older adults

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects on fitness indicators and subjective health-perception of a multimodal exercise program provided by a district in Budapest among community-living seniors. METHODS: Sixty community-living older adults aged over 60 years formed beginner group (who were at the beginning of the exercise program), advanced group (who had been in the programme for 3-6 months), active group (who had been participating in the exercise program for at least 6 months, in addition to Nordic walking program) and a physically inactive control group. Balance, functional mobility, lower and upper limb strength, lower and upper body flexibility, aerobic endurance and self-reported health perception were measured at baseline, and after a 12-week follow-up period. RESULTS: The beginner group and the advanced group improved in upper body flexibility (beginner Delta=1.2; d=0.83; advanced: Delta=1.7; d=1.39), lower body flexibility (beginner: Delta=1.7, d=0.484; advanced: Delta=1.9; d=1.55), lower limb strength (beginner: Delta=1.47; d=0.84; advanced: Delta=1.57; d=0.72), and functional mobility (beginner: Delta=-0.6; d=0.54; advanced: Delta=-0.4; d=0.90). There were also improvements in aerobic endurance (Delta=11.06; d=0.96) and balance (Delta=1.6; d=0.62) of beginner group. These indicators declined in the control group. Indicators of the active group did not change. The self-perceived health status declined (Delta=-13.9; d=0.73) in the control group but did not change in any exercising groups. CONCLUSIONS: This multimodal exercise program can be effective among community-living older adults, even in Hungary, a country where geriatric physical activity is not widespread. Therefore, it would be useful to extend this model program to other settlements as well.