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Rural Health Information Hub

Fit & Strong!®

Summary 
  • Need: Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition which often causes multiple related disabilities in older adults.
  • Intervention: An 8-week physical activity, behavior change, and falls prevention program geared to older adults with osteoarthritis.
  • Results: Participants gained confidence with increased exercise, lessened stiffness, improved joint pain and improved lower extremity strength and mobility.

Evidence-level

Evidence-Based (About evidence-level criteria)

Description

Fit & Strong Logo Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic condition among older adults that limits physical activity and is a risk factor for related disabilities. Research has proven that arthritis-associated muscle weakness and endurance can be minimized or reversed with regular exercise. The Fit & Strong!® program was developed to assist older adults with lower extremity OA to improve mobility and maintain independent functioning. The program combines 2 components shown effective for OA: physical activity and behavioral health education.

The Fit & Strong! design focuses on affordability, easy replication, and involves an eight-week physical activity/behavior change program for older adults.

In 2017, the National Council on Aging approved the program as an evidence-based fall prevention approach. As of August 2020, the program is offered in many locations throughout 32 states, including several rural communities, and the District of Columbia.

In recent years, researchers have expanded the program and created a new program, Fit & Strong! Plus. This program combines interventions proven successful in prior studies: physical activity and weight management.

In response to COVID-19 — and as a way to better reach rural older adults — under development is a fully online/remote adaptation of Fit & Strong! with anticipated availability in the next 4 to 8 months.

Fit & Strong! offers online instructor training for new instructors. The asynchronous online training consists of 5 modules and uses videos, slides, pictures, and interactive test questions. The online training can be taken by instructors anywhere they have an internet connection.

Created by teams at the of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health's Institute for Research and Health Policy, funding for the original program's development was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute on Aging, the Arthritis Foundation, and The Retirement Research Foundation.

Services offered

Fit & Strong! classes meet 3 times per week for 8 weeks or 2 times per week for 12 weeks (24 total sessions). The classes consist of multi-component exercises that focuses on:

  • Flexibility
  • Aerobic training
  • Strength/resistance training
  • Balance
  • Health education and self-management for sustained behavior change
  • Individualized health plans for post-class maintenance

Additionally, the program also includes warm-up and stretching/balance exercises and a group problem solving component that is very important in increasing participants' confidence in their ability to both exercise safely and remain motivated to continue a physically active lifestyle.

Before program completion, instructors negotiate exercise adherence contracts with participants and emphasize a lifestyle which includes three self-directed 1-hr exercise sessions per week.

Results

Published studies have demonstrated that Fit & Strong! participants will likely see these sustained improvements after 12-18 months after an 8-week course:

  • Increased confidence in their ability to exercise safely with arthritis
  • Increased participation in exercise
  • Increased lower extremity strength and mobility
  • Decreased lower extremity stiffness
  • Decreased anxiety and depression

Originally designed using only physical therapists (PTs) as instructors, additional research found that certified exercise instructors (CEIs) provided similar outcomes for participants. CEIs are less expensive than PTs, and likely more available in rural areas, making Fit & Strong! easier to implement.

In addition to CEIs, individuals who are certified in comparable evidence-based exercise programs like A Matter of Balance and chronic disease self-management programs (CDSMP) can also be trained as Fit & Strong! Instructors.

For more detailed information about program effectiveness:

Replication

For those interested in starting a Fit & Strong! program, a 12-page guide is available providing information including readiness assessments, instructor requirements, support resources and quality assurance procedures.

Fit & Strong instructors must:

  • Be certified by either a nationally recognized fitness organization or serve as a leader of another evidence-based exercise program
  • Complete Fit & Strong! training and certification

Program costs will vary depending on space, instructor and equipment costs such as:

  • Open area for walking, ideally with space to walk
  • Chairs for participants
  • Elastic exercise bands
  • Adjustable ankle cuff weights
  • Floor mats
  • Fit & Strong! Instructor and Participant Manuals

The program is licensed by the University of Illinois, Chicago and licensing fees apply.

Contact Information

Andrew DeMott, Program Manager
Fit & Strong! Team
312.355.3174
ademot1@uic.edu

Topics
Aging and aging-related services
Arthritis
Elderly population
Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention

States served
National/Multi-State, Illinois

Date added
June 7, 2013

Date updated or reviewed
August 19, 2020

Suggested citation: Rural Health Information Hub, 2020. Fit & Strong!® [online]. Rural Health Information Hub. Available at: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/project-examples/726 [Accessed 29 March 2024]


Please contact the models and innovations contact directly for the most complete and current information about this program. Summaries of models and innovations are provided by RHIhub for your convenience. The programs described are not endorsed by RHIhub or by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Each rural community should consider whether a particular project or approach is a good match for their community’s needs and capacity. While it is sometimes possible to adapt program components to match your resources, keep in mind that changes to the program design may impact results.