Approved
by NCA & ACSM
1998
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| ExRx.net > Store > Older Adult > Product |
Approved
by NCA & ACSM
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About the Author | Awards | Home | Institution | Professional
Based on a ten-year program, begun at Tahoe Forest Hospital, Fitness Forever™ Senior Exercise Video is a broadcast quality video exercise tape, directed at seniors and older adults. Fitness Forever is a nationally recognized program providing seniors and older adults with a medically designed exercise program that will enhance and maintain good health and fitness.
Seniors often encounter difficulty when searching for appropriate and accessible exercise programs. Seniors who are able to find a suitable program enjoy the benefits of improved health and fitness. They also have lower overall healthcare costs.
Fitness Forever is an engaging fitness video based on the nationally recognized seniors fitness program of the same name developed by Tahoe Forest Hospital and directed by Nancy Swayzee. The video was filmed on the shores of Lake Tahoe and features Swayzee leading five members of Tahoe Forest Hospital’s Fitness Forever class.
Among the highlights of the video are
Fitness Forever meets the latest exercise standards of both the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the World Health Organization (WHO). It offers a safe and realistic approach for health professionals to get seniors exercising.
This medically designed, precedent setting video has received endorsement by The American College of Sports Medicine. It is the only exercise video to have this prestigious approval.
Fitness Forever™ Senior Exercise Video also won the 2001 Time Inc Health International Health & Medical Media Competition Freddie Award
It was most recently awarded The National Council on Aging 2001 Molly Mettler Award For Excellence in Health Promotion
This video was made possible from an educational grant from Wyeth Laboratories Inc, A Wyeth-Ayerst Company.
Nancy Swayzee is a medical exercise specialist and a health and fitness instructor certified by the American College of Sports Medicine. She develops fitness programs for a variety of special populations. As a member of the Tahoe Forest Hospital health promotions team, she directs both the senior exercise and aqua aerobics programs. She lives in Cedar Ridge, California, close to her children and grandchildren.
Fitness Forever Senior Exercise Video is the perfect tool for a home-based program. The convenience and availability of a medically designed and approved program right in their own home, increases the probability of seniors and older adults exercising appropriately and safely.
One of the goals of Fitness Forever is to teach seniors and older adults the value of physical activity in their everyday lives. Exercising to the video in their own home reinforces this concept, by getting them accustomed to sustaining rhythmic activity (and having fun!) where they are most comfortable, right in their own living room.
Home-based exercise is convenient…it requires no transportation to another destination, it requires no special equipment other than a VCR for video use, it can be done all year long, is not affected by inclement weather or road conditions, and it can be done any time of day or night.
Recent studies have shown that seniors are more comfortable exercising in familiar surroundings, without the intimidation of younger, more fit individuals observing them.
The Fitness Forever Senior Exercise Video can be creatively used to create an “exercise support group” in your home. For those seniors and older adults who prefer to exercise with a friend, or who need the motivation of a partner or group – this award winning video can be the perfect tool for experiencing the fun of exercising.
For those seniors and older adults who already have an exercise regime, or who already take daily walks, Fitness Forever Senior Exercise Video may be the ideal addition for an alternative workout. Exercise that includes upper and lower body coordination, balance and changing patterns, teaches valuable body mechanics that significantly decrease the risk of falling…one of a senior’s greatest fears, and the leading cause of death in the elderly…complications resulting from a fall!
Fitness Forever Senior Exercise Video was also designed for use in an institutional setting, such as a hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation program, senior center, an assisted living complex, nursing home or hospital extended-care facility. It is enthusiastically received as an alternative class for a fitness center, or as part of a corporate retirement program. It is a low-cost, medically appropriate addition to any existing exercise or fitness program.
The benefit, to the senior or older adult using the tape, is the addition of specifically designed moves to improve balance, coordination, reflex response, and even brain function! (this is a link)
The value of a medically designed, medically approved, portable exercise program cannot be overlooked! This video offers a low-cost method of expanding and enhancing your existing program, by offering a workout session that can be done with minimal supervision.
Throughout the video Michael McQuarrie, MD, FASCM is featured as “Doc in the Box”, and viewed on a small portion of the screen. Dr. McQuarrie gives cautionary information to the exerciser about specific moves and advises the viewer to “work at the level prescribed by your physician”. Directions for those exercising to the tape on their own, guides them through an appropriate, safe cool-down if they are ending their workout before the tape is done.
The video may be purchased in larger amounts at a discount, to be available for re-sale or as part of an institutional library checkout program. Pricing for both bulk quantities and institutional customization is available.
“Exercise is the most forgotten prescription for seniors and older adults”. This phrase has been made famous by Fitness Forever co-developer & co-producer Janet Fletcher Brady, MS., and Director of Health Promotions at Tahoe Forest Hospital.
Fitness Forever was originally designed as a medically appropriate and approved exercise video to be prescribed by physicians to their patients.
Made possible by an unrestricted educational grant from Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Fitness Forever Senior Exercise Video was initially distributed to physician’s offices directly from the Wyeth-Ayerst sales representatives. Physicians spoke loudly and clearly, that finding appropriate, effective, and accessible exercise to prescribe to their patients was a serious and frustrating problem.
They asked Wyeth-Ayerst for help in finding a tool they would feel safe prescribing for all the various levels of physical ability and disease processes they saw in their patients.
Wyeth-Ayerst and Fitness Forever came together, and with the State of the Art production skills of Fresh Air Media (formerly known as Flessing & Flessing), produced the award winning video.
Based on the successful senior exercise program at Tahoe Forest Hospital, the script was written by co-developer & co-producer Nancy L. Swayzee, MES, ACSM Health & Fitness Instructor.
Having had her first book, “Breathworks For Your Back…Strengthening Your Back From The Inside Out”, published in 1998, writing was an easy assignment. The format for the script is a close reproduction of the three-day a week class, modified to be a progressive workout for the safety of the viewing exerciser.
Fitness Forever Senior Exercise Video begins with about ten minutes of educational narrative, talking to the viewer about exercise teaching them how to take their pulse, how to breathe, and the importance of drinking water During the monologue, Michael McQuarrie, MD, FACSM, and TFH Chief of Staff is introduced. Dr. McQuarrie appears through-out the video as the “Doc in the Box” giving additional cautionary information.
The ten minute warm-up was designed to act as a beginning workout for any patient needing to begin exercising slowly, i.e.,
After this “whole body” warm-up, the program begins a carefully planned progression of low-impact aerobics. Adding an additional sixteen minutes of increasingly challenging moves, and pace, the aerobic portion of the video meets the ACSM guidelines of “20 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic conditioning”.
Throughout the aerobic portion, Dr. McQuarrie delivers cautionary information to the exerciser, and advises them how to safely cool down if they need to end this portion early.
Following a two-minute cool-down, the video moves into the Strength Portion, which is preceded by a detailed explanation of how to work with the hand weights, how to pace their strength exercise to avoid joint stress and injury, and how to add the overload principle.
The strength portion offers seven “combination” exercises that effectively work all the major muscle groups. The exercises are done standing using a chair for support, and seated. The exercises are followed by full body stretching, demonstrated in different ways to accommodate every level of ability and flexibility.
The video ends with a few minutes of deep breathing and relaxation.
In the script development stages, the exercises, language and the pace were subject to medical scrutiny. Fitness Forever Senior Exercise Video passed several medical review boards at Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals, Tahoe Forest Hospital and the American College of Sports Medicine.
This easy going, yet complete workout, offers something for everyone. You, as the healthcare professional, can feel confident and comfortable in prescribing this award-winning program to your patients
Advising them to incorporate the Fitness Forever Exercise Video into an existing exercise regime of walking, water exercise or yoga, introduces upper and lower body coordination, balance and timing elements into their daily activity.
The addition of these components can greatly reduce the risk of falls by developing their kinesthetic awareness and reflex response.
Offering this well-rounded, medically appropriate exercise program to your patients, allows them to become involved in the management of their own symptoms and diseases. It educates them to the value of daily physical activity, and empowers them by giving them a “portable” exercise program they can use anytime, anywhere
Videotape for older adults and professionals featuring exercises that will benefit the health and fitness of seniors.
Although originally developed for seniors, the exercise program is appropriate for anyone, any age with a physical condition such as – Arthritis, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Coronary Artery Disease, Congestive Heart Disease, Asthma, Emphysema, Fibro-myalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Obesity, or recovering from Stroke