Regular physical exercise improved elderly patients' perception of their health and well-being. A study examined 54 patients aged 65+ who exercised 3 hours per week for at least 6 months. Patients reported overwhelmingly improved health, reduced aches and pains, better mood and quality of life, and more energy compared to before exercising. They also felt better able to perform daily activities and engage socially. On a scale of 0-10, patients rated their overall health an average of 6.31 before exercising, increasing significantly to 9.09 after. The study concludes that systematic physical activity provides benefits to aged patients' well-being and social engagement.

1. Be active to stay young! Our experience on
physical exercise and well-being in a group of
aged patients from a Health Care Centre
Daniela Florentina Pruteanu, Francisco Antón García,
Carolina Mir Sánchez, Olga Maroto Delgado
Wonca Europe 2015 Istanbul Conference
Fuensanta
Health Care
Centre
Quart de
Poblet
Health Care
Centre
Valencia
Spain

2. Background
and
aim
To determine if physical exercise
systematically practiced by a group
of aged patients from a health care
centre does improve their
perception on their own health and
well-being.

3. Methodology
We applied a questionnaire (adapted SF-
12) about perceived health status, to a
group of 54 patients, aged 65 and older.
They have been practicing physical
exercise for at least six months, 3 hours a
week, supervised by a 67 year old
"expert patient".
The questionnaire assessed their health
status as they perceive it in the present
compared to what they perceived before
starting the physical exercise
programme.

4. Results
N = 54 patients of our HCC
48 women and 6 men.
Mean age: 72.2 years old.

5. Results
Question (Q) 1 – How would you describe
your health status in the present?
0
13
37
33,3
16,7
87
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Very bad Bad Good Very good Excellent Globally good
%

6. Results
Q2 – How would you describe your
present versus previous (before
programme) health status?
36,9
53,8
9,3
0 0
90,7
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Much better Better The same Worse Worst Globally better
%

7. Results
Q3 – Have you noticed any
improvement in performing your
daily activities?
Yes: 96.3%.

8. Results
Q4 - Since you have started exercise,
your aches:
9,3
79,6
11,1
88,9
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Disappeared Diminished Are the same Worsened Globallimprovement
%

9. Results Q5: What about your state of mind?
57,4
40,7
1,9
98,1
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
It improved a lot It slightly improved It´s the same Global improvement
%

10. Results Q6 – Did your social life improve?
55,6
42,6
1,8
98,2
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
It improved a lot It slightly improved The same Global improvement
%

11. Results Q7: Do you feel having more
energy for your daily activities?
51,9
38,9
9,2
90,8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Absolutely true True enough I don´t know True, globally
%

12. Results Q8: Did your quality of life improve?
51,9
33,3
14,8
85,2
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Absolutely true True enough I don´t know True globally

13. Results Q9: How would you range your global
health status on a scale from 0 to10?
6,31
9,09
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
before practicing physical
exercise
after practicing physical
exercise
p=0.000, CI 2.20-3.36

14. Conclusions
Physical exercise practiced systematically improved patient´s perception on well-being

15. Conclusions
…And it also improved their social relationships, they felt more active.

16. Thank you
for your
attention!
…And thank you young ladies for inspiring our work!!!