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Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(1) : 38-48, 2015. Inexpensive exercise interventions are needed to attract and retain older adults to participate in sufficient amounts of exercise to improve functional performance (FP). This study examined the addition of a program enhancing game, bingo, to a multicomponent exercise program (BingocizeTM). Older adults (18 women, M age = 75.1 (8.63) years, participated 2 days per week (45- 60 minute sessions) for 10 weeks. Participants sat at tables with bingo cards, balance pads, and exercise bands. Exercises were alternated with rolls of bingo until a participant won the bingo game. Pre and post body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), and FP were measured. FP was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test battery. Using paired-sample t-tests, significant improvements were found in all FP measures, but not in BW or BMI (p ˂ .05). The low-cost, sustainability, and ease of implementation suggest BingocizeTM may be a novel and enjoyable alternative to traditional older adult group exercise interventions. Our results should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of a control group and small sample size. Future research could examine changes in activities of daily living, quality of life, and other measures of functional fitness in this and other populations.

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