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Community-based exercise programs have demonstrated feasibility, yet many lack controlled studies examining their efficacy. This study examined the efficacy of a community-based exercise program, using a controlled design. Participants (N = 262, Mage = 74.0 years, SD = 8.4) were women (77%) and men recruited from senior centers served by the county Area Agency on Aging. Intervention participants (n = 133) were newly enrolled in classes. Controls (n = 129) were recruited from matched sites not offering classes. Validated measures of physical function, exercise self-efficacy, balance, and activities of daily living (ADL) confidence were administered at baseline and 3 months. Significant improvements in upper and lower body strength, aerobic endurance, mobility, exercise self-efficacy, and balance were found in the exercisers but not controls. No changes in ADL confidence occurred in exercisers, while significant decreases occurred in controls. Findings support the efficacy of the county-wide program. Building an evidence base for community-delivered programs should provide impetus for increased dissemination through state and national agencies thereby increasing program impact.
Levy et al. (Sun,) studied this question.