Effectiveness of the Enhance Fitness program In Healthy Aging Regional Collaborative of South Florida

Background: Physical activity has proven benefits for older adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that older adults engage in at least 2.5 hours of moderate intensity exercise at least twice per week to reduce the risk of falls and chronic diseases. To ensure this benefit, the Healthy Aging Regional Collaborative (HARC) offered the EnhanceFitness (EF) program to older adults in South Florida.

Methods: EnhanceFitness participants attended three one-hour classes per week that included exercise activities aimed at increasing strength, flexibility, balance and functional mobility. A six-item questionnaire and three physical fitness tests were completed at baseline and 16 weeks. A participant satisfaction survey was also completed at week 16. Data of participants who took part in the on-going EF program between October 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 were analyzed using a general linear model.

Results: The majority of participants were age 60 and older (81%), female (74.3%), and Caucasian (60.2%). Participants completing 16-week cycle (N=940) showed significant improvements in self-reported health status ( Δx̄=0.19, p=0.001), physical abilities ( Δx̄=0.19, p< 0.05) and number of days per week engaged in physical activity (Δx̄ =0.29, p=0.001). Participants also significantly improved on physical fitness tests. Participant evaluations showed that 98.8% would participate in EF again and 96% would recommend the class to others.

Conclusion: EF had a favorable effect on physical activity functioning and was generally well liked by participants. Overall, HARC was successfully able to implement EnhanceFitness programs at 54 sites in South Florida.