EFFECTS OF LOW-IMPACT, MODERATE-INTENSITY EXERCISE TRAINING WITH AND WITHOUT WRIST WEIGHTS ON FUNCTIONAL CAPACITIES AND MOOD STATES IN OLDER ADULTS

This study examined the effects of low-impact, moderate-intensity exer cise training with and without wrist weights (0.68 kg.wrist(-1)) on fu nctional capacities and mood states in older adults (age 68.6 +/- 5.6, mean +/- SD). Twenty-three senior citizens residing in the community were randomly assigned to wrist weight (WW; n = 12) and no-wrist weigh t (NW; n = 11) exercise groups while Ii matched subjects served as non -exercise controls (NE). Exercise training was performed for 10 weeks, 3 days/week, for 60 min/session and consisted of low-impact aerobic d ance (50-70% of maximal heart rate) combined with exercises to promote muscular fitness, flexibility, and balance. Before and after the inte rvention, each participant's aerobic fitness, muscular strength, flexi bility, static and dynamic balance, skinfold thickness, and psychologi cal mood states were assessed under standardized testing conditions. E xercise training resulted in significant improvements in peak oxygen u ptake, lower extremity muscle strength, and psychological vigor (p < 0 .05) but did not affect other fitness components (p > 0.05). There wer e no differences between the WW and NW exercise groups for any of the same variables studied (p > 0.05). No significant pre- to post-test ch anges were found for the NE control group (p > 0.05). It is concluded that 10 weeks of low-impact, moderate-intensity exercise training of t he type that can be considered well-rounded in nature provides a suffi cient stimulus to augment aerobic fitness, beneficially affects leg st rength, and increases feelings of vigor in older adults. The present o bservations indicate that the use of light wrist weights has no benefi cial or adverse effects on the measured training outcomes.