ORIGINAL ARTICLE  PSYCHOLOGY 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2019 October;59(10):1783-90

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.19.09588-4

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Changes in perceived quality of life and subjective age in older women participating in Nordic Walking classes and memory training

Anna LEŚ ¹ ✉, Monika GUSZKOWSKA ², Joanna PIOTROWSKA ³, Izabela RUTKOWSKA ⁴

¹ Department of Recreation Theory, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; ² Department of Clinical Psychology and Special Education, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; ³ Department of Recreation Methodology, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; ⁴ Department of Disability Sport, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of regular Nordic walking (NW) and memory training on the quality of life and subjective age perception in older adults. Relationships between changes in quality of life and subjective age and changes in physical and perceptual fitness were also examined.
METHODS: The study examined 61 women aged 64 to 93 years living in adult day care centers. Twenty people participated in a 3-month program combining Nordic walking and cognitive training (group NW+C), 20 people participated only in Nordic walking classes (group NW), and 21 people were a control group (group C). The Fullerton Functional Fitness Test, the Romberg balance test, WHOQOL-Bref Age questionnaire and the Attention and Perceptivity Test were used in the study.
RESULTS: After three months of exercises, a decrease in subjective age and an improvement in perceived quality of life was observed in NW+C and NW groups, with no such changes found in group C. Positive correlations were also found for the index of decline in subjective age and quality of life with indices of physical fitness improvement.
CONCLUSIONS: Regular physical and intellectual activity has a positive effect on perceived quality of life and subjective age of the residents of adult day care centers.

KEY WORDS: Aging; Women; Physical fitness; Walking; Quality of life; Physical activity