Copy URL
Home > Promising Practices > EnhanceFitness

EnhanceFitness

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

EnhanceFitness is a multi-component group exercise program designed for community-based organizations and retirement communities. Scientific evidence shows that regular physical activity can bring dramatic health benefits to people of all ages. Physical activity among seniors can extend years of active independent life, reduce disability, and improve the quality of life for older persons. The EnhanceFitness program consists of one-hour classes, three times a week. The classes are conducted by a certified fitness instructor and emphasize moderate intensity aerobic conditioning, strength training, flexibility, and balance exercises.

Goal / Mission

The goal of EnhanceFitness is to encourage older adults to engage in regular physical activity to improve their health and well-being.

Impact

EnhanceFitness participants reported a 13% improvement in social function, a 52% improvement in depression, and a 35% improvement in physical functioning. Additionally, participants' healthcare costs were 21% less than those of non-participants after one year.

Results / Accomplishments

Researchers at the University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center (HPRC) first designed and piloted the program as part of a community study at Senior Services Northshore Senior Center in Seattle. The response from participants was immediate, and overwhelmingly positive. Not only were the seniors excited about participating, but study measures showed that the group improved significantly in almost every dimension tested. Study participants reported a 13% improvement in social function, a 52% improvement in depression, and a 35% improvement in physical functioning. Additionally, EnhanceFitness participants' healthcare costs were 21% less than those of non-participants after one year. EnhanceFitness has been offered in more than 500 sites nationally. Since 1994, more than 30,000 adults have participated in EnhanceFitness.

In a study examining the effectiveness of participation in EnhanceFitness, it was shown that in 2,889 participants who participated in outcomes testing, improvements were observed at 4 and 8 months on performance tests, and participants’ self-rating of health improved at 8 months.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Sound Generations
Primary Contact
Sound Generations
2208 2nd Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
206-448-5725
http://www.projectenhance.org
Topics
Health / Older Adults
Health / Physical Activity
Organization(s)
Sound Generations
Date of publication
2006
Date of implementation
1997
Location
Seattle, WA
For more details
https://projectenhance.org/enhancefitness/
http://jag.sagepub.com/content/25/4/291.refs.html
Target Audience
Older Adults

Related Promising Practices

  1. Kids N Fitness: A Family-Centered Lifestyle Intervention for Overweight Youth
  2. Head to Toe Weight Management Program
  3. Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do it! (MEND) Program
  4. Bienestar: A School-Based Diabetes and Obesity Prevention Program
  5. Chicago Fitness Plus
  6. Help Educate to Eliminate Diabetes (HEED)

More

Related Content for: EnhanceFitness

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.