When Nancy Bol retired, the last thing on her mind was waking up at the crack of dawn to exercise for an hour three days a week and then spending her other days as a research subject for University of Western Ontario graduate students.
But for the last five years she has done just that.
And she has no plans for turning back.
“What I’ve noticed is the longer I’ve been retired the more energy I have,” says Bol, a member of the Western-based Retirement Research Association (RRA). “Now, five years into it, I feel better than I have in some years.”
Founded in 1981 by London cardiologist Peter Rechnitzer, the exercise program for retirees is the continuation of an initial four-year study looking into the benefits of exercise in promoting a healthy retirement. Almost 30 years later, more than 130 seniors make the trek to the university three days a week where kinesiology students lead them through arms, legs and abdominal training before members begin a 30-minute walk/jog.
“It helps when you first retire – with your routine – and it helps to structure your life,” Bol adds. “It’s a new phase of your life and you need to learn how to navigate it. It’s really a good way to stay motivated.”
Members also take a yearly stress test under the supervision of a doctor to establish their level of fitness and set objectives for the coming year.
Robert Petrella, medical director for Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging (CCAA), located at Mount St. Joseph, conducts these tests and recalls working with the group as a PhD student back in 1997.
“The stress test is used to screen for underlying cardiac problems in new recruits to the programs, uncovering new disease in existing participants, adjusting exercise prescriptions to individual needs and reassessment of those who may have problems develop during their training,” says Petrella, who in addition to the tests is responsible for medical input to development of new programs, evaluation of injuries, supervision of the research programs.
Petrella is a huge proponent of the RRA.
“I have seen incredible gains in health among participants, been able to uncover ‘silent’ health problems and directed patients to appropriate care,” he says. “We have benefitted as researchers from a motivated and consistent resource of subjects for our work. There are very few programs like ours – beyond the RRA and local CCAA – that helps to train workers in the field.”
RRA member Peter Holmes has been with the group for 19 years and admits there are more benefits than just physical fitness. “You’re going to stay fit and then there’s the social interaction aspect. When I joined I knew six people in the group,” says Holmes, adding a great deal of wit, humour and laughter always compensates for the occasional regret of getting up earlier than one would wish.
“Now my wife, who is also part of the group, and I love the friendships that have been born. I feel that if I don’t go I’m not just letting myself down, but I’m letting the group down.”
Charles Rice, associate professor in School of Kinesiology and Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, appreciates the dedicated RRA volunteers who support his and others ongoing studies in the field of exercise and aging. “Many members volunteer for several of our studies each year and thus they have provided a wealth of information related to aging, exercise and fitness,” Rice says. “They ask for nothing in return except insight and understanding of what we are trying to accomplish and hope they can help.”
In his neurmuscular lab, along with colleague Tony Vandervoort, Rice focuses on the health and function of the ability of muscles to contract or muscle strength, why that happens, and how can exercise possibly improve this inevitable decline.
Rice remains impressed how RRA volunteers continue to fully engage despite parts of some studies requiring moderate to heavy exercise efforts, blood work, muscle biopsies taken, small wires or needles inserted into the muscles or brief electrical shocks to make muscles twitch. “Their co-operation and support have provided excellent research data for many student theses and research publications,” he says. “Their involvement and value to our research studies and student training cannot be overstated.”
“It’s a way to give something back,” Holmes adds. “It we can help them why not. It’s a motivation in itself.”
For more information box at end of story: Find out more about the Retirement Research Association by contacting Peter Holmes at 519-439-9764.