This quasi-experimental study evaluated the effects of an 8-week multi-component group exercise program on physical performance and sleep quality among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. Participants were recruited from four community care sites in central Taiwan. The intervention group participated in a structured exercise program consisting of aerobic, resistance, balance, and flexibility training conducted at a university-affiliated senior fitness club, while the control group maintained their usual community activities. Primary outcomes included physical performance and sleep quality. Physical performance was assessed using gait speed, chair stand, arm curl, grip strength, balance, and walking tests. Sleep quality was measured using the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI). Heart rate recovery was evaluated as a secondary outcome. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.
Population ageing increases the importance of interventions that promote healthy ageing and prevent functional decline. Exercise interventions have demonstrated benefits for mobility, muscular strength, balance, cardiovascular health, and quality of life in older adults. However, evidence regarding structured multi-component exercise programs integrated with senior-friendly smart fitness equipment and their effects on sleep quality remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an 8-week multi-component group exercise program on physical performance and sleep quality in community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. The intervention was designed according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommendations for older adults and incorporated aerobic exercise, resistance training, balance training, and flexibility exercises. Participants in the intervention group attended weekly 100-minute exercise sessions consisting of warm-up activities, whole-body vibration training, treadmill or stationary bicycle aerobic exercise, hydraulic-based isokinetic resistance training, and cool-down exercises. Exercise intensity was monitored using heart rate and session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE). The control group maintained their regular community activities without structured exercise intervention. The primary outcomes were changes in physical performance and sleep quality. Secondary outcomes included heart rate recovery as an indicator of cardiovascular fitness. This study provides evidence regarding the feasibility and effectiveness of community-based multi-component exercise programs for older adults.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
80
Participants attended weekly 100-minute supervised exercise sessions including warm-up stretching, aerobic exercise using treadmills and stationary bicycles, whole-body vibration training, resistance exercise using hydraulic isokinetic equipment, and cool-down activities. Exercise intensity was monitored using heart rate and perceived exertion.
Tunghai University
Taichung, Taiwan
Time to Walk 4 Meters
Time required to walk 4 meters at usual pace. Gait speed is expressed in meters per second (m/s).
Time frame: Baseline and week 8
Chair Stand Test
The Chair Stand Test assesses lower-body muscle strength by measuring the time required for participants to complete five chair stands consecutively with arms crossed over the chest.
Time frame: Baseline and week 8
30-second Arm Curl Test
The 30-second Arm Curl Test assesses upper-body muscle endurance by counting the number of arm curls completed within 30 seconds using a dumbbell weighing 2.27 kg for women and 3.63 kg for men.
Time frame: baseline and week 8
Grip Strength Test
The Grip Strength Test assesses hand muscle strength using a hand dynamometer. Participants perform maximal grip force with the dominant hand, and the measured force is recorded in kilograms.
Time frame: baseline and week 8
Side-by-Side Stand Test
The Side-by-Side Stand Test assesses static balance by measuring the participant's ability to maintain a side-by-side standing position without assistance.
Time frame: baseline and week 8
Tandem Stand Test
The Tandem Stand Test assesses static balance by measuring the length of time participants can maintain a heel-to-toe standing position, up to a maximum of 10 seconds.
Time frame: baseline and week 8
2.44-meter Timed Walk Test
The 2.44-meter Timed Walk Test assesses mobility and dynamic balance by recording the time required for participants to stand up from a seated position, walk 2.44 meters around a cone, and return to the chair.
Time frame: baseline and week 8
Sleep Quality
Sleep quality was assessed with the Chinese version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI), a validated translation of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). It includes nine self-reported items scored across seven domains: subjective sleep quality, latency, duration, habitual efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction, all assessed over the past month. Scores range from 0 to 21, with scores greater than 5 indicating poor sleep quality.
Time frame: Baseline and week 8
Heart Rate Recovery
Heart rate recovery (HRR) was assessed two minutes after treadmill exercise and defined as the difference between heart rate immediately post-exercise and at two minutes recovery.
Time frame: Week 1 and Week 8
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