The initial goal of this study was to evaluate the adherence to a home-based exercise program and his results in
balance, mobility, cognitive function, heath state and depression. However, the stimulus given to the participants had
led to a change of the initial protocol, adapting it to motivational and social needs by getting together into a
community space to perform the exercises. Accordingly, the research began to take into account the adherence to an
exercise program with the absence of the physical therapist and not necessarily at home.
When made in community, the program reveals gains in health status (mental health) and balance. However, there
were no gains in mobility, health status (physical health) or cognitive function. The adherence shows to be highly
satisfactory.
The answers to the questions made at six months follow-up,showed that health reasonswere the most important
motivation to participate inthis exercise program. When we analyzed the answers, it was less directly visible the
interest in the social dimensions, but our interpretation of the change from one home-based exercise to a group
exercise is the interest of all the participants to continue to develop group dynamics.
Answers like “It’s a way of interacting with other people” and “It’s a way of getting out of home” when
questioned about the advantages of the program revealed the importance of this social dimension. The dimension of
mental health of the MOS-SF-12, which have significant differences between T0 and T3, is expressed in the
expression’s “More unwind and lucid” and“I’m better now” that are frequent responses to the second question,has
related to the social interaction.
The third question (Do you intend to continue performing these exercises?) received strongly positive answers. At
the end of the protocol of the study, all the participants intended to continue to meet to do the exercises. High
adherence during all the study protocol is also a signal of participant’s motivation.
This intention shows that participants have empowered this exercise program as a way of continue the meetings
and promote social interaction. This intention shows also that the group has autonomy, free will and ability to decide
their future.
Exercise program and the presence of the physiotherapists in the beginning of the protocol and during the
evaluations moments was, probably, the only change that triggered for this autonomy and social participation.
By the results shown previously about adherence, we can say that physical therapy in a rural community, even
when there’s no physical therapist at full time and it’s only accompanied by distance, is able to trigger de necessary
motivation to lead changes in lifestyle by achieving a physical activity with positive outputs in health state.