Effects of Therapeutic Home-Based Resistance Exercises on Functional Fitness Levels of Older Adults: Quasi-Experimental Study

Objective: The elderly population in Türkiye is increasing rapidly; however, the participation rate of older adults in exercise remains very low due to various specific reasons. This situation indicates that there is a need for safe, low-cost, accessible, sustainable and therapeutic recreational exercise programmes to increase the well-being and life expectancy of older adults. This study aimed to examine the effects of an 8-week (2 days per week, resistance exercise) therapeutic recreational and online home-based resistance exercise programme on some functional fitness components of older adults. Material and Methods: The study was completed by 79 participants, 42 (X age: 72 years, standard deviation: 5.77) males and 37 (X age: 69.9 years, standard deviation: 4.30) females. Lower and upper extremity muscle strength, flexibility, quickness and aerobic endurance values the participants were collected using functional fitness test data tools. Exercise intensity were calculated through Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale. Groups, pretestposttest time differences and group*time interactions were analysed by mixed design analysis of variance. Results were analysed at the 0.05 significance level. Results: The results showed that group*time interaction had a significant effect on lower-upper extremity muscle strength, lowerupper body flexibility, agility-motor coordination and aerobic endurance, respectively (F=17.547, p