Department of Exercise & Kinesiology Works

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Browsing Department of Exercise & Kinesiology Works by Author "Alamilla, Rafael A."

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    Comparison Between Dance-Based and Traditional Exercise on Health-Related Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
    (2022) Alamilla, Rafael A.; Dent, Shaquitta R.; Soliven Jr., Robert C.; Holt, Tharon; Kaushal, Navin; Keith, NiCole R.
    Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) includes physical health, cognitive well-being, and the presence of social support. Declines in HRQoL can result in physical impairment, social isolation, and impaired cognition. Regular exercise (EX) participation may lead to better HRQoL among older adults. Dance-oriented group fitness classes (DANCE) can provide participants with structured EX that involves high levels of coordination and social comradery. DANCE EX may be a viable alternative to traditional EX (TRAD) for the maintenance of HRQoL. PURPOSE: To determine whether participation in regular DANCE EX displays higher HRQoL in older adults when compared to those who participate in TRAD EX. METHODS: Twenty-nine older adults (age 69.8 ± 9.6 yrs; 28 females; 93.1% white) enrolled in a cross-sectional study examining those who either participated in DANCE EX or TRAD EX at the time of enrollment. All participants completed the following assessments: the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 subscale for physical functioning (SF-36); the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE); the Duke Social Support Index (DSSI); and the Senior Fitness Test (SFT). RESULTS: A MANOVA test demonstrated a statistically significant difference in SFT scores between groups (F(2,29) = 3.11 p < 0.02; Wilk's λ = 0.29, partial η2 = 0.17). Univariate ANOVA tests detected a significant different between groups for chair stand (F(2,29) = 18.63, DANCE: 15.38 ± 4.05, TRAD: 9.07 ± 3.69; p < 0.001), 8 ft up-and-go (F(2,29) = 6.57, DANCE: 5.53 ± 1.02, TRAD: 7.87 ± 3.15; p = 0.02), 2 min step test (F(2,29) = 17.09, DANCE: 100.69 ± 19.58, TRAD: 66.47 ± 30.94; p < 0.001), and SF-36 (F(2,29) = 4.14, DANCE: 92.31 ± 5.25, TRAD: 79.31 ± 22.46; p = 0.05). Neither perceived social support nor cognitive function were significantly different between groups (p > 0.05). Weekly MET-mins of moderate (DANCE: 2,487.7 ± 2,226.3, TRAD: 1,752.0 ± 1,734.5) and vigorous (DANCE: 2,870.8 ± 2,829.8, TRAD: 1,920.0 ± 3,301.5) physical activity did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: DANCE EX supported higher levels of physical health—and no effect on cognitive well-being and social support—when compared to TRAD EX. DANCE EX may be a viable form of EX to support HRQoL in older adults.
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    Reducing Physical Activity Disparities Among Vulnerable Minorities: Methods and Preliminary Outcomes
    (2022) Alamilla, Rafael A.; Georgiadis, Yanoula M.; Kaushal, Navin; Keith, NiCole R.
    INTRODUCTION: Vulnerable minorities experience high rates of chronic disease. Physical Activity (PA) is an effective preventive behavior to mitigate multiple diseases. Vulnerable minorities have low PA participation. Finding ways to engage PA in vulnerable minorities is imperative. PURPOSE: To describe the baseline data from a community-based wait-list pilot PA trial for vulnerable minorities. METHOD: Forty-five participants from a Midwest urban community were randomized to an experimental (EXP) or wait-list control (WLC) group. EXP participants were counseled to engage in regular PA (>4d/wk for >30 mins). EXP participants received a fitness center membership, trainer, and on-site monthly education to help them develop exercise identity and habit formation. The WLC group could engage in PA if desired but did not have the same research resources. Both groups completed monthly surveys assessing exercise identity, social support, and habit formation. Baseline data included one week of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and health-related fitness assessments (measured by accelerometry and fitness tests, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Data show baseline measures did not vary between groups. Moreover, our team experienced difficulties recruiting vulnerable minorities. Participant-stated barriers to participation in our study included: 1) Schedule (work, child’s school, etc.) and conflicting life demands; 2) Fear of getting ill or getting immediate family ill (COVID, flus, etc.); 3) Disruption of routine (e.g., children going on school break); 4) The limited hours of the fitness center; 5) Inflation & rising costs of goods (e.g., gasoline, food, etc.); and 6) Issues interacting with PARCS staff, lack of trust. Next steps include reporting final outcomes and developing refined recruitment methods.