Exploring the Effectiveness of a Community Senior’s Functional Physical Fitness Exercise Program run by Hondao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation

[[abstract]]This program consisted of aerobic exercises, physical fitness, balance exercises and circuit training within a group dynamic with data collected to determine its effectiveness towards an enhanced quality of life. The researchers analysed data collected throughout 2015 from the database of Hondao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation across Taiwan. This cohort consisted of a total of 258 valid samples; those aged 55 and over who completed both pre and post-test for the 10-week program. The findings: 1. The variables of gender and age showed significant difference in regards to the Back-Scratch, Chair-Sit-and-Reach, and Two-Minutes Steps tests showing an effect of P<.05. Female participant’s flexibility for both upper and lower limbs as well as cardiovascular endurance showed substantial improvement. 2. Research found that participation to a regular senior physical exercise program compared to irregular exercise helps seniors improve their physical fitness. Conclusion The creation of a group dynamic exercise program is able to increase the senior’s motivation to carry out an ongoing exercise schedule, therefore decreasing the barriers for non-participation with regular exercise. Not only did the program increase senior’s physical fitness in regards to muscle strength, muscle endurance, aerobic endurance, flexibility and agility etc. but also improved their independent lifestyle and general health/well-being