Abstract by: Blythe Bonnette
Rejeski, W.J., and Focht, B. C. (2002). Aging and Physical Disability: On Integrating Group and Individual Counseling With the Promotion of Physical Activity. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews 30 (4), 166-170.Abstract
This article compares two models of pathways to functional limitations and then creates a third model that includes self-efficacy beliefs and physical symptoms. The first model involves four sequential concepts. It views disability as the result of interactions between people and their social/physical environments (Nagi, 1965). The second model continues to view social interaction as important in the process to disability, but it now suggests that impairments in strength and aerobic capacity and psychological factors can also have a regulatory role as external factors (Verbugge and Jette, 1994). This article suggests that these physical symptoms and psychological factors should be seen as part of the main pathway rather than as external variables (Rejski and Focht, 2002).Physical activity alone may not be enough to improve the way that older adults perceive their own level of function and therefore their ability to perform activities of daily living (Keysor and Jette, 2001). Therefore, the article suggests integrating group and individual counseling with exercise prescription in order to maximize the effect of physical activity interventions with the older population. Populations specifically studied in regards to this suggestion involved adults with knee pain and/or arthritis. Self-efficacy beliefs are found to be strongly related to the performance of various physical tasks, suggesting their ability to act as a potential mediator of improvements in functional performance. This article uses data found from these studies to suggest that targeted group and individual counseling could enhance physical activity interventions. The underlying belief in this proposal is in physical activity programs in which the activities of daily living become the focal point of the prescription.
Research in this area is needed in order to find the important mediating variables in the older population for motivation to start and maintain an active lifestyle, to empower perception of a functional daily life, and to find interventions to assist in coping with the physical symptoms. On a broader scale, research can contribute to spreading the awareness of the needs of our older population to affected organizations and society in general, as well as reaching public policy (Rejeski and Focht, 2002).The issue discussed in this article is important. Methods to increase the independence of the rapidly growing older population can potentially improve the quality of their lives, and of those who have assumed the burden of their dependence (heartless as it may sound). Since physical activity has been found effective in improving functional performance, it makes sense to search for a way to improve adherence and perception of these methods and activities.