Erwin J. Tan|Xue Qin|Tao Li|Michelle C. Carlson|Linda P. Fried
Volunteering: A Physical Activity Intervention for Older Adults—The Experience Corps® Program in Baltimore
compelling evidence supporting benefits increased regular physical activity older adults experience corps program baltimore md designed part community based approach increasing physical activity would also appeal older adults historically utilized health promotion programs baltimore experience corps program places older volunteers public elementary schools 15 h week roles designed improve academic outcomes children simultaneously increase physical cognitive social activity volunteers paper reports change physical activity levels among older adults associated participation baltimore experience corps pilot randomized controlled evaluation older adults randomly assigned experience corps ec participants waiting list control group ages ranged 5986 years 96 african american 94 women 84 annual incomes less 15000 ec participants required serve 15 h week followup 48 months analysis 113 randomized volunteers revealed 53 ec participants active previous year selfreport compared 23 controls p001 adjusted age gender education trend toward increased physical activity ec participants calculated kilocalorie per week increase 40 versus 16 decrease controls p049 ec participants reported low activity baseline experienced average 110 increase physical activity followup among controls low activity group baseline average 12 increase physical activity p003 among previously active significant difference p030 pilot results suggest high intensity volunteer program designed health promotion intervention lead shortterm significant improvements level physical activity previously inactive older adult volunteers