BACKGROUND: The study objective was to determine the health and quality-of-life effects of moderate-intensity exercise among older women family caregivers. volunteer sample of 100 women aged 49 to 82 years who were sedentary, free of cardiovascular disease, and caring for a relative with dementia. Participants were randomized to 12 months of home-based, telephone-supervised, moderate-intensity exercise training or to an attention-control (nutrition education) program. Exercise consisted of four 30- to 40-minute endurance exercise sessions (brisk walking) prescribed per week at 60% to 75% of heart rate reserve based on peak treadmill exercise heart rate. Main outcomes were stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity levels. rated sleep quality, and reported psychological distress. participants (EX) showed significant improvements in the following: total energy expenditure (baseline and post-test means (SD) for EX = 1.4 (1.9) and 2.2 (2.2) kcal/kg/day; for NU = 1.2 (1.7) and 1.2 (1.6) kcal/kg/day; p < 0.02) stress-induced blood pressure reactivity (baseline and post-test systolic blood pressure reactivity values for EX = 21.6 (12.3) and 12.4 (11.2) mmHg for NU = 17.9 (10.2) and 17.7 (13.8) rum Hg: p < 0.024) and sleep quality (p < 0.05). NU showed significant improvements in percentages of total calorie. from fats and saturated fats relative to EX (p values < 0.01). Both groups reported improvements in psychological distress. moderate-intensity exercise program in terms of reductions in stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity and improvements in rated sleep quality.
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