Insights Following Implementation of an Exercise Intervention in Older Veterans with PTSD.
Individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face numerous barriers to exercise. Little is known about behavioral strategies to promote participation in this population. This is a secondary analysis of individual barriers and goals, exercise prescription characteristics, and patient perceptions of a 12-week, community-based, randomized controlled exercise trial targeting older adults with PTSD, (N = 45; mean age = 68; male = 91%). The most common cited goals for participating included weight loss (65%) and increasing strength (65%). Exercise mode varied among those who completed the program (n = 37), with 14 (38%) using exclusively treadmill; eight (22%) using only bike, and 15 (41%) utilizing a combination. Patient-reported exercise duration and intensity progressively increased over the 12 weeks, and duration differed by mode of exercise. We observed high rates of attendance (84%) and completion (88%) to the program. Patient-reported barriers to attendance most often included health problems (62%) and medical appointments (55%). Participant responses to a program evaluation revealed high levels of satisfaction, preferences for group-based programs, and insights about the acceptability of the exercise environment (physical and social). This study is the first to report on goals, barriers, exercise prescription needs, and individual responses to supervised exercise training in a unique population, that is, older veterans with PTSD. Results of this study can inform future health promotion programs targeting older veterans with PTSD.
['Pebole|Michelle M|MM|', 'Hall|Katherine S|KS|']
D000368:Aged D015444:Exercise D005081:Exercise Therapy D005260:Female D006293:Health Promotion D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D017060:Patient Satisfaction D015397:Program Evaluation D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic D014728:Veterans
implementation Post-traumatic stress disorder barriers exercise prescription aging health promotion goal setting motivation physical activity