Standing Beats Sitting When it Comes To Exercise

October 25th, 2017

Exercise can improve mobility in older adults who have difficulty walking and research from Jennifer Brach, PhD, PT, at the University of Pittsburgh reports that standing exercise is better than seated exercise. Difficulty walking is a common problem in older adults that can lead to a loss of independence and an increased risk of becoming sick or even dying. Community-based group exercise programs can be a good option for older adults who want to exercise, but the specific type of exercise needed to improve walking was unclear. Researchers recruited nearly 300 people age 65 and older who were able to walk independently and assigned them to either the On the Move exercise program or the usual care exercise program. Both programs were group-based and met for 50 minutes, twice a week, for 12 weeks. Participants in the usual care group performed seated exercises that included strength, endurance, and stretching activities. On the Move participants performed similar exercises while standing, and also took part in stepping and walking patterns. At the end of the study, researchers reported that people in the standing On the Move program had a significant improvement in walking speed and distance. These findings suggest that timing and coordination exercises while standing should be a part of exercise programs for older adults who want to improve mobility and overall health.  

Learn more about exercise studies at pittplusme.org.