It amazes me that the body always wants to heal, given the right opportunity.
When it comes to health and wellness, we are all ultimately responsible for ourselves. This becomes more relevant as we age and go through changes and challenges. With the help of Participation Studies, we can join others in this journey and see the positive results while improving our health and quality of life.
When I retired, I got involved with a series of Participation Studies that focused on health and wellness, as well as research for UBC, VGH and the YMCA – all geared towards seniors. After speaking with many of my cohorts, I discovered their main concern was their physical and cognitive health.
I have always been active and walk the seawall daily. After my knee replacement and leg straightening surgery, it felt like I had to learn to walk all over again.
My husband was incredibly supportive and helpful getting me out for a walk around the block, but my goal was to get back on the seawall. Again, I started my search for studies that would be appropriate for me since my surgery.
Lucky for me, I found a Participation Study that focused on rigorous exercise and how that would affect cognitive health. I was excited but needed to know if I was a suitable candidate. They were looking for those aged 65 to 85, which I was. When I called, I found out they do an interview first to see if I would benefit from their study.
After a detailed interview, I was accepted and told they would be calling me back to set up a three-hour physical, and a four-hour cognitive assessment. I would need to devote four days per week for one hour each day for 26 weeks. After my assessment, it was decided that I would require two days of balance and two days of physical exercise. They were looking for 300 candidates to complete the study. I was number 91.
When I took the three-hour physical test, I felt as though I had gone to the Mayo Clinic. I had the usual blood tests, height and weight, heart rate and leg and arm strength. This was followed up with a six-minute scan of my body to measure my bone density. My walking speed and gait pattern were also recorded. Then it was time to see about my balance with several tests regarding overall body mobility, toning and balance.
My first class was a pleasant surprise: I expected the class to be all women but was impressed with the number of men that turned out.
They put a heart rate monitor around my waist, and a watch-like device on my wrist that would measure my heart rate to see if the exercise was working. We started with a warm-up, then the circuit training, which comprised of step, a stationary bike, treadmill and even boxing (I loved that!). After each circuit, they checked to see how hard I was working and feeling by a Borg.
After three months, COVID-19 hit, and we went from in class to virtual. When I asked others in the class what they thought, they all said the social element and the motivation and encouragement from each other was what they really enjoyed and would miss.
After six months, we were tested again to see if the rigorous exercise had worked to improve our cognitive abilities. It was another three-hour physical and four-hour cognitive test, followed by the results.
What I noticed during the study was that no one complained or made excuses, rather they felt as though they were contributing to research as well as increasing their own health and wellness.
I felt that the individual focus was a wonderful experience and I encourage anyone who wants to know how your body influences your mind and how they depend on each other, this is an opportunity not to miss for your physical and cognitive health and wellness.
For more information on this study please contact:
Recruitment Coordinator Sofia Grant
Phone 604-875-4111 ext. 69223
Email: cogmob.research@hiphealth.ca
Name of Study: Aging, Mobility and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab
Principal Investigator: Dr Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Professor in the Department for Physical therapy and Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity, Mobility, and Cognitive Health
Website:
https://cogmob.rehab.med.ubc.ca/
Note: The participant count is currently in the mid-100s, and they are looking for 300 by 2022.
The classes are now divided into two virtual classes, as well as two in-class sessions.
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