Research
SIT AND BE FIT VIEWER STUDY
Measurable Project Objectives
Our goal was to understand the role physical activity plays in healthy aging. A survey posted on the SIT AND BE FIT web site had 350 respondents of which data was used from 284. These respondents ranged in age from15-93 yrs of age with a mean of 60.5 yrs. Of these, the majority (89%) were predominantly Caucasian females who exercise to SABF an average of 6 times per month and have been doing so for an average of approximately 9 months. Of note, 30% had just discovered and started using the program while the longest user has been doing so for the past 14 years. In regards to data concerning their health, 24% of the respondents reported falling during the past year an average of 2.5 times although 8% of those reported having fallen less since using the SABF program.
Project Results
Final Project Results
The following outcome-based results of collected data have emerged.
Using the SF36 v2 health survey to determine a participants overall health the following areas of health were reviewed. These areas included PF: Physical Functioning; RP: Role Physical; BP: Bodily Pain; GH: General Health; VT: Vitality; SF: Social Functioning; RE: Role Emotional; and MH: Mental health.Results from the SF36 V2 Scale Measures using Norm-Based Scoring reveal SABF participants as having similar scores compared to other females in the general population.
Comparative Scores for General U.S. Population and SABF
| Females | PF | RP | BP | GH | VT | SF | RE | MH | ||||||||
| Mean | 48.7 | 48.5 | 49.0 | 48.7 | 49.1 | 49.2 | 49.3 | 48.7 | 48.7 | 46.4 | 49.0 | 49.3 | 49.8 | 48.5 | 48.8 | 34.4 |
| 25% | 44.4 | 44.4 | 44.6 | 42.1 | 41.4 | 41.8 | 43.4 | 43.4 | 42.7 | 42.7 | 45.9 | 45.9 | 44.2 | 44.2 | 44.3 | 30.3 |
| 50% | 52.8 | 52.8 | 54.4 | 54.4 | 51.1 | 51.1 | 50.5 | 50.5 | 48.9 | 45.8 | 56.8 | 56.8 | 55.8 | 55.8 | 50.0 | 33.1 |
| 75% | 57.0 | 57.0 | 56.8 | 56.8 | 55.36 | 55.3 | 57.7 | 56.1 | 55.2 | 48.9 | 56.8 | 56.8 | 55.8 | 55.8 | 57.0 | 38.7 |
| SD | 10.5 | 11.0 | 10.3 | 10.8 | 10.2 | 9.9 | 10.2 | 10.4 | 10.1 | 4.34 | 10.5 | 10.8 | 10.5 | 11.2 | 10.4 | 7.0 |
SABF scores in bold
Summary Scores of the SF-36v2 and SABF reveal the Physical and Mental Component (PCS & MCS) Summary Scores show statistically significant differences with improvements in physical health but lower scores with Mental Health. Further studies would need to be conducted to determine why these differences exist.
| Females | PCS | MCS | ||
| Mean | 49.12 | 52.03 | 48.96 | 41.49 |
| 25% | 43.62 | 45.8 | 46.42 | 38.39 |
| 50% | 52.36 | 55.63 | 51.83 | 41.68 |
| 75% | 56.8 | 60.61 | 56.79 | 44.98 |
| SD | 10.45 | 11.61 | 10.67 | 5.74 |
SABF scores in bold
Results from the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) show scores that are within the normal ranges for both males and females in all age group from 65-100 years of age.
Age Group for PASE Scores:
| Age | 65-69 Years | 70-75 Years | 76-100 Years | |||
| Men | 144.3+/- 58.6 |
14.73+/- 9.16 |
102.4+/- 53.7 |
122.82+/- 91.37 |
101.8+/- 45.7 |
156.99+/- 111.27 |
| Women | 112.7+/- 64.2 | 65.02+/- 34.97 |
89.1+/- 55.5 | 79.67+/- 47.07 | 62.3+/- 50.7 | 62.13+/- 46.68 |
SABF scores in bold
Analysis of this outcome data suggests that SABF is an important exercise program that helps to sustain if not improve the health of its users. Further evidence-based studies should be conducted to determine the impact SABF has with specific chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes. Equally important would be studying the direct impact SABF may have on those suffering from frequent falls and their subsequent prevention.