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Effects of Moderate-Intensity Exercise on Physiological, Behavioral, and Emotional Responses to Family Caregiving

A Randomized Controlled Trial

^a Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Research and Policy,
^b Center for Research on Women's Health and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
^c Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
^d Department of Exercise Science, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia

Abby C. King, Stanford University School of Medicine, 730 Welch Road, Suite B, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1583 E-mail: king{at}stanford.edu.

Decision Editor: John E. Morley, MB, BCh

Background. The study objective was to determine the health and quality-of-life effects of moderate-intensity exercise among older women family caregivers.

Methods. This 12-month randomized controlled trial involved a volunteer sample of 100 women aged 49 to 82 years who were sedentary, free of cardiovascular disease, and caring for a relative with dementia. Participants were randomized to 12 months of home-based, telephone-supervised, moderate-intensity exercise training or to an attention-control (nutrition education) program. Exercise consisted of four 30- to 40-minute endurance exercise sessions (brisk walking) prescribed per week at 60% to 75% of heart rate reserve based on peak treadmill exercise heart rate. Main outcomes were stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity levels, rated sleep quality, and reported psychological distress.

Results. Compared with nutrition participants (NU), exercise participants (EX) showed significant improvements in the following: total energy expenditure (baseline and post-test means [SD] for EX = 1.4 [1.9] and 2.2 [2.2] kcal/kg/day; for NU = 1.2 [1.7] and 1.2 [1.6] kcal/kg/day; p < .02); stress-induced blood pressure reactivity (baseline and post-test systolic blood pressure reactivity values for EX = 21.6 [12.3] and 12.4 [11.2] mm Hg; for NU = 17.9 [10.2] and 17.7 [13.8] mm Hg; p < .024); and sleep quality (p < .05). NU showed significant improvements in percentages of total calories from fats and saturated fats relative to EX (p values < .01). Both groups reported improvements in psychological distress.

Conclusions. Family caregivers can benefit from initiating a regular moderate-intensity exercise program in terms of reductions in stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity and improvements in rated sleep quality.

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