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Regular walking helps elderly in Dallas remain independent 

Older adults who participate in a walking exercise program can decrease their risk of disability and increase their likelihood of maintaining independence by 41 percent, a University of Georgia study found. Establishing a walking routine with your aging relative is an easy way to help them stay independent longer. If you need help, call Home Instead Senior Care Dallas – our CAREGivers are available to spend companionship time with your loved one.

“In the past decade, researchers have focused on the benefits of strength training in maintaining independence, but until now we didn’t have good evidence using an objective performance measure that a walking program would improve physical functioning,” said study co-author M. Elaine Cress, Professor of Kinesiology and Researcher in the UGA Institute of Gerontology. “Our study found that walking offers tremendous health benefits that can help older adults stay independent.”

Study participants were assigned to either of two groups – a walking group that met three times a week for four months or a nutrition education control group. Researchers measured the aerobic capacity of participants using a treadmill test. While the control group saw a 9 percent decline in aerobic capacity over the four-month period, the walking group’s aerobic capacity increased by 19 percent. Physical function increased by 25 percent in the walking group, compared with a decline of 1 percent in the control group.

“We know that walking is good for you, but too many people still aren’t doing it,” said Trudy Moore-Harrison, lead study author. “This study shows that just walking on a regular basis can make a huge impact on quality of life.The study appears in the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy.

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