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Counseling for home-based walking and strength exercise in older primary care patients.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Dubbert, PM; Morey, MC; Kirchner, KA; Meydrech, EF; Grothe, K
Published in: Arch Intern Med
May 12, 2008

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effects of counseling linked with primary care visits on walking and "strength exercise" (the combination of strength-building and flexibility exercise) in aging veterans. METHODS: Male veterans aged 60 to 85 years (N = 224) with physical function limitations were randomized to either counseling for home-based walking and strength exercise (EXC) or discussion of their choice of health education topics (EDUC) with a nurse at baseline, 1 month, and 5 months. The EXC participants recorded exercise on monthly calendars and received brief follow-up calls from the nurse; all participants received bimonthly newsletters throughout the 10-month trial. RESULTS: Retention was 83% in the EXC group and 97% in the EDUC group (P < .001). With analyses using the last observation carried forward approach, the EXC participants reported more walking time per week at 5 and 10 months (64.5 and 60.6 min/wk, respectively, for the EXC group vs 50.5 and 45.7 min/wk, respectively, for the EDUC group; 2.4 d/wk and 2.3 d/wk, respectively, for the EXC group vs 1.8 and 1.7 d/wk, respectively, for the EDUC group) (P < .001). The EXC participants also reported more strength exercise at 5 and 10 months (44.6 and 41.2 min/wk, respectively, for the EXC group vs 19.8 and 14.7 min/wk, respectively, for the EDUC group; 2.1 and 2.0 d/wk, respectively, for the EXC group vs 0.8 and 0.8 d/wk, respectively, for the EDUC group) (P < .001). The EXC participants reported more frequent moderate- or higher-intensity physical activity (7.1 vs 5.1 sessions/wk) (P < .001). Findings from accelerometer-measured physical activity indicated more EXC than EDUC participants (64% vs 46%), who averaged 30 min/d or more of moderate- or higher-intensity physical activity (P = .03). Participants engaging in strength exercise improved physical performance and reported positive changes in quality of life. CONCLUSION: Relatively brief counseling linked with primary care visits can increase home-based walking and strength exercise in aging male veterans. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00013195.

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Published In

Arch Intern Med

DOI

EISSN

1538-3679

Publication Date

May 12, 2008

Volume

168

Issue

9

Start / End Page

979 / 986

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Walking
  • Veterans
  • United States
  • Prospective Studies
  • Primary Health Care
  • Muscle Strength
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Status
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
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Dubbert, P. M., Morey, M. C., Kirchner, K. A., Meydrech, E. F., & Grothe, K. (2008). Counseling for home-based walking and strength exercise in older primary care patients. Arch Intern Med, 168(9), 979–986. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.168.9.979
Dubbert, Patricia M., Miriam C. Morey, Kent A. Kirchner, Edward F. Meydrech, and Karen Grothe. “Counseling for home-based walking and strength exercise in older primary care patients.Arch Intern Med 168, no. 9 (May 12, 2008): 979–86. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.168.9.979.
Dubbert PM, Morey MC, Kirchner KA, Meydrech EF, Grothe K. Counseling for home-based walking and strength exercise in older primary care patients. Arch Intern Med. 2008 May 12;168(9):979–86.
Dubbert, Patricia M., et al. “Counseling for home-based walking and strength exercise in older primary care patients.Arch Intern Med, vol. 168, no. 9, May 2008, pp. 979–86. Pubmed, doi:10.1001/archinte.168.9.979.
Dubbert PM, Morey MC, Kirchner KA, Meydrech EF, Grothe K. Counseling for home-based walking and strength exercise in older primary care patients. Arch Intern Med. 2008 May 12;168(9):979–986.

Published In

Arch Intern Med

DOI

EISSN

1538-3679

Publication Date

May 12, 2008

Volume

168

Issue

9

Start / End Page

979 / 986

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Walking
  • Veterans
  • United States
  • Prospective Studies
  • Primary Health Care
  • Muscle Strength
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Status