Zohre Najafi
1 
, Hadi Kooshyar
2* , Reza Mazloom
2 , Amin Azhari
3 1 Department of Nursing, Student Research Committee, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3 Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Ira
Abstract
Introduction: Immobilization
in the elderly can reduce the size and strength of muscle mass and ultimately
lead to sarcopenia, the severity and progression of which can be prevented by
exercise. However, due to physical and mental conditions, the elderly may be
unable to take full advantage of regular exercise. Therefore, fun exercise
through motivation and effective participation of older adults is likely to
have positive effects on decreasing the volume and power of muscle mass. The aim of
this study was to determine the effect of fun physical activities on the
progression of sarcopenia among elderly residents in nursing homes.
Methods: This
study was a two-group randomized controlled trial conducted in 2014. Sixty
three older adults were recruited by the random sampling. The elderly in the fun physical exercise
group did the exercise for 8 weeks,
three times a week for 20 minutes at a time, and in the control group, the
adults did the routine exercises. The Berg Balance Scale, a dynamometer, and
the Six-Minute Walk Test were used to measure sarcopenia criteria (balance,
muscle strength, distance traveled).The statistical analysis was done by SPSS
version 13.
Results: The results showed that the mean score of the sarcopenia
criterion (balance, distance walked, muscles strength)
was significantly increased in the fun physical exercise group than in the
control group.
Conclusion: The fun
physical activity reduces sarcopenia progression through improving balance,
increasing distances walked, and strengthening muscles.