Exercise in Older Adults/Active Aging
Research demonstrates that older adults – both fit and deconditioned – can experience improvements in strength, endurance, mobility, and overall functional fitness, when they use recumbent steppers as an exercise modality.
NuStep recumbent cross trainers are frequently used as an exercise modality by researchers evaluating the impact of cardiovascular fitness on diverse populations, including those with multiple comorbidities that impact physical and cognitive function. The abstracts (with links to the articles) below highlight the breadth of that research with focus on older adults.
Studies and summaries:
Journal of NeuroImaging | 2019
Research Summary
The aim of this study was to look at the impact of cardiovascular exercise on cerebral blood flow in older adults. The NuStep T5XR was used as the exercise modality.
The authors concluded that a high intensity interval training (HIIT) rehabilitation program for older patients was feasible, safe and had a high adherence rate.
The study utilized NuStep recumbent cross trainers as one of the modalities. The authors noted that “exercises performed using stationary machines (pedal exerciser, NuStep, cycle ergometer) were suitable and safe for this population at risk of falls. The NuStep has the additional advantage of being a full-body trainer [25]. The other exercises proved to be more difficult due to balance, gait, and coordination issues, and they did not increase HR into the desired range. This selection of relevant exercises could be useful for the design of HIIT programs for geriatric populations.”
Authors
Research Summary
The aim of this study was to determine if high intensity interval training was feasible for patients, 65 and older hospitalized for an acute medical condition. The random controlled trial included 100 patients who participated in a two-week rehabilitation program of either four HIIT or three MICT sessions per week. The NuStep recumbent cross trainer was one of the cardio pieces used in this study.
The authors concluded that a HIIT rehabilitation program for this population was feasible, safe and had a high adherence rate.
Authors
Research Summary
The data suggests that the TBRS submaximal exercise test and prediction equation can be used to predict peak VO2 in older adults. The authors also stated that this finding is important for health care professionals who want to inform patients or clients about their fitness level.
Authors
Research Summary
The objective of the study was to examine the effects of a total body recumbent stepper exercise program on blood pressure, strength and walking speed in elderly, assisted-living residents.
The results of this study revealed that assisted-living residents who exercised on a recumbent stepper as little as nine minutes per week decreased blood pressure, and increased strength and walking speed. This effect holds true even in the oldest-old individuals.
Authors
Research Summary
The purpose of this study was to develop an accurate metabolic equation for estimating steady-state oxygen consumption (VO2) during submaximal NuStep exercise.
The authors concluded that the findings support the use of the equation developed to predict steady-state VO2 for NuStep exercise in older adult clientele.