Year of Award

2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Name

Health and Human Performance (Exercise Science Option)

Department or School/College

Department of Health and Human Performance

Committee Chair

Steven Gaskill

Commitee Members

Charles Palmer, Reed Humphrey

Keywords

body mass index, cardiovascular disease, electrocardiogram, fasted blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein, individualized exercise prescription, low-density lipoprotein, pedometer-base program, quality of life, rating of perceived exertion, systolic bloo

Publisher

University of Montana

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. A majority of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease are modifiable through drug therapy, diet, and exercise. Purpose: To determine if the student-run stress testing and exercise prescription program 1) resulted in subsequent lifestyle changes and in reduced CVD risk, 2) if the addition of pedometer-base exercise prescription in conjunction with weekly phone calls added to the student prescription would differentially reduce CVD risk, and 3) to determine if either of these interventions in middle-aged adults improves quality of life (QOL). Methods: Forty-two participants (21 males, 21 females) were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Both groups received individualized exercise prescription interventions designed from a student-led 12-lead ECG exercise stress test, strength testing, body composition testing, and flexibility testing. One-half of the participants additionally received a pedometer-base program (PBP) that tracked daily step totals and included a weekly phone call. Results: In the 19 participants who completed the 6 month study, overall HDL cholesterol increased (54.6 to 62.8 mg/dL), LDL cholesterol decreased (121.5 to 104.2 mg/dL), and resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased (126.7-120.2 mmHg) at an alpha level of < 0.05. Heart rate, body mass index, fasted blood glucose, and rating of perceived exertion did not significantly change from baseline values (p < 0.05). Subjects reported improvements in physical limitations, emotional well-being, and overall QOL was improved (p < 0.05). There were some differences between the two exercise interventions, but the small sample size who completed the testing limited the power of the analysis. Conclusion: Blood lipids, resting SBP, and QOL were significantly improved. The improvements in cardiac risk profiles, QOL, and participant evaluation forms suggest that positive lifestyle changes were made as a result of the intervention.

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© Copyright 2011 Bret James Ralston