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Fit & Strong!

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Fit & Strong! is an exercise program for older adults with lower extremity osteoarthritis. The eight week program improves functional and physical activity among individuals with osteoarthritis, a known risk factor for future disability. Classes across the nation are instructed by certified exercise instructors or licensed physical therapists that have been trained in Fit & Strong programming. The program uses flexibility exercises, strength training, and aerobic walking to increase aerobic capacity and improve lower extremity stiffness, pain, and strength. The program also includes health education for sustained behavioral change to increase older adults’ participation in exercise and caloric expenditure.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the Fit and Strong! program is to improve function among older adults with osteoarthritis.

Results / Accomplishments

In a randomized controlled trial, those in the Fit and Strong! intervention group had statically significant improvements in their lower extremity stiffness, exercise levels, and confidence in their ability to exercise with arthritis when compared to a control group at the end of the two month program. The same benefits were maintained at a 6-month follow-up. In addition, participants reported a significant decrease in lower extremity joint pain, increased confidence in their ability to adhere to exercise over time, and increased confidence in their ability to manage arthritis pain. Participants maintained a 56% increase in physical activity participation relative to their baseline at the 12-month follow-up, and had significant reductions in lower extremity stiffness and pain.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
University of Illinois at Chicago Center for Research on Health and Aging
Primary Contact
Fit & Strong! Team
University of Illinois at Chicago
Institute for Health Research and Policy
Center for Research on Health and Aging, M/C 275
1747 W. Roosevelt Rd., Rm. 558
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 413-9810
http://www.fitandstrong.org/
Topics
Health / Older Adults
Health / Other Conditions
Health / Physical Activity
Organization(s)
University of Illinois at Chicago Center for Research on Health and Aging
Date of publication
2006
Date of implementation
2001
Location
USA
For more details
http://www.fitandstrong.org
Target Audience
Older Adults

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An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.