EVALUATION OF ARNIS-BASED EXERCISE PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS IN THE PHILIPPINES: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

D. Lipardo¹, D.E. Añonuevo¹, J. Barlis¹, E.J. Chang¹, S.A. Ferrer¹, J.J. Lama¹, K. Rivera¹, K. Saludo¹, M.T. Turiano¹, J. Porto^2,2, R. Laxa²

¹University of Santo Tomas, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Manila, Philippines, ²University of Santo Tomas, Institute of Physical Education and Athletics, Manila, Philippines

Background: Arnis is the national martial art of the Philippines. Similar to Tai Chi, a martial art with established therapeutic effects, it can improve the balance control of older adults. Given its potential and characteristics, its use as a therapeutic exercise to improve balance in older adults has not been explored.

Purpose: This study aimed to design and evaluate an Arnis-based exercise program to improve the static and dynamic balance control of community-dwelling Filipino older adults.

Methods: A qualitative exploratory study using the Delphi Method was conducted. A 12-week moderate-intensity Arnis-based exercise program for older adults was designed. A Physical Therapist, Geriatrician, Sports Scientist, Arnis Expert, and Senior Citizen separately evaluated the video-recorded exercise program. Semi-structured interviews were individually completed online to gather their feedback. Revisions to the program and video-recording of the exercise were made and was sent to the resource persons for the second round of interviews.Three researchers completed the thematic analysis.

Results: During the first round of evaluation, four themes represented the evaluation of the Arnis-based exercise program: Program presentation, Participant consideration, Program aspects, and Provisions for safety. After one round of interviews, a strong consensus was reached based on the program's appropriateness, difficulty level, benefits, and feasibility for older adults. However, the exercise program needs to be revised to improve on the aspects of safety, instructions, structure, and progression. The exercise program was revised based on the comments of the resource persons prior to the second round. In the second round of interviews, the study reached a strong consensus from the five themes representing the Evaluation: Impressions, Movement, Rehabilitation, Safety, and Video concerns. No further revisions are necessitated and final approval was given.

Conclusions: Based upon the final round of interviews, the resource persons deemed the Arnis-based exercise program as an appropriate and feasible intervention in improving the static and dynamic balance control of older adults. With the progression, appropriateness and safety improved through the revisions brought about by feedback from the previous rounds of interviews. More studies using experimental design are also necessary to establish the actual effect of this Arnis-based exercise program.

Implications: The study provides another means of improving static and dynamic balance control in lowering the risk of falls in the form of integrating the use of Filipino martial arts in the rehabilitation of Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Physical therapists and other health professionals working with geriatric patients could use the exercise program without the need to visit an expensive facility or use specialized equipment not found in homes or communities.

Funding acknowledgements: No funding was required for this research.

Keywords:
Older Adults
Balance
Arnis

Topics:
Older people
Disability & rehabilitation

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: University of Santo Tomas

Committee: University of Santo Tomas-College of Rehabilitation Sciences Ethics Review Committee

Ethics number: SI-2020-024R1