RENE ELLINGTON

If the benefits seen in the mirror and on the scale aren’t enough to convince you, new research shows that regular exercise can also have a dramatic impact on your pocketbook. The financial benefits are more pronounced for those who stand to gain the most physically from routine activity — older adults with chronic disease.

A January 2008 study funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracked a group of participants in the Healthways SilverSneakers® Fitness Program for two years and found that they were admitted to the hospital less often and had lower overall healthcare costs.

Participants in the study had significantly lower total adjusted healthcare costs, saving an average of $500 compared with a control group that did not participate. The more members participated, the more they saved. Participants who averaged at least two fitness center visits per week over two years incurred at least $1,252 less in healthcare costs in year two than did those who visited less than once per week on average. The savings were even more pronounced among those who visited more than twice a week.

According to the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, chronic diseases exact a particularly heavy health and economic burden on older adults due to associated long-term illness, diminished quality of life, and greatly increased healthcare costs. In 2005, 133 million people –- almost half of all Americans –– lived with at least one chronic condition and 70 percent of all deaths in this country were attributed to chronic diseases. The medical care costs of people with chronic diseases account for more than 75 percent of the nation’s $2 trillion medical care costs.

Diabetes is one of the fastest growing conditions in the United States. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is highly correlated to lifestyle factors, specifically poor diet and physical inactivity. Being active can help to control and maintain body weight and stabilize blood sugar levels.

Further research of the same participants from the January study suggests that the healthcare cost reductions associated with participation in an exercise program for older adults in general also apply to older adults with diabetes. In fact, the impact on total healthcare cost is seen earlier and is three-times greater in this higher risk group. Those with diabetes had a 29 percent lower hospitalization rate, largely attributable to fewer hospital admissions and lower inpatient care costs when hospitalized. Participants had notable reductions in total healthcare costs at both one year (-$1,633) and two years (-$1,130) compared with non-participants.

Another chronic condition affecting millions of older adults is depression. Depression affects between 5-10 percent of older adults seen in primary care and is associated with decreased adherence to exercise, diet and taking medication. However, those who exercise report having a better outlook on life and studies show that engaging in regular physical activity may also help to improve quality of sleep.

Investigators at Duke University found that those who went through group-based exercise therapy did as well as those treated with an antidepressant drug. While the exercise alone is beneficial, many experts feel that the social aspect of group-based exercise might provide added benefits.

In the first study to examine the association between depression and participation in a health plan-sponsored physical activity program for older adults over an extended period of time, researchers also found that at least two visits per week to group exercise classes during the first year were significantly associated with a lower risk of depression in year two.

We are learning more each day about how physical activity can prevent the onset of other chronic diseases such as heart disease and osteoarthritis. Exercise has also been shown to help treat the symptoms associated with those conditions.

Physical activity plays a critical role in the prevention and treatment of heart disease by increasing the amount of HDL in the blood. Research has shown that regular physical activity can speed recovery from a heart attack and can also help to prevent symptoms worsening if you already have heart disease or a risk factor such as high blood pressure. Cardiovascular or aerobic activity of moderate intensity (like brisk walking) on most days of the week is most beneficial for the prevention and treatment of heart disease.

A common misconception seen among older adults who suffer from osteoarthritis is that exercise will worsen their condition. The Arthritis Foundation, sports medicine physicians and researchers all agree that proper exercise can help control pain and other symptoms of osteoarthritis. For the older adult, reducing and strengthening the joint can mean improved ability to do daily activities. Physical activity, in general, is often recommended as an excellent non-medical therapy for patients who have osteoarthritis.

While the CDC-funded studies focused on health plans’ savings, fewer illnesses and improved health can mean less co-pay, prescription and other out-of-pocket costs for the member. Many Medicare health plans offer wellness benefits to their members, giving them access to a life-changing tool.

Although the risk of disease and disability increases as we get older, this new research is proof once again that poor health does not have to be an inevitable consequence of aging. Much of the illness, disability, and death associated with chronic disease can be avoided through known preventive measures such as exercise.


Rene Ellington is Senior Vice President of the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program, the nation’s leading exercise program designed exclusively for older adults and a product of Healthways, Inc. For more information, go to www.healthways.com.