The Effect of Walking Exercise on Blood Pressure and Blood Glucose in the Elderly

Abstract

Background: Walking exercise is a physical activity that stimulates various components of physical fitness. Particularly in the elderly, it improves blood circulation, strengthens bones, lowers blood pressure and glucose. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of walking exercise on blood pressure and blood glucose in the elderly. Method: This research was experimental research that used a quantitative approach. Participants were elderly aged 60 years with a history of hypertension and high blood glucose. The samples in this study were 34 people who were determined based on a simple random sampling technique. The experimental group was given physical activity treatment for walking 3x a week with mild to moderate intensity for 60 minutes for three weeks. The control group did not participate in any treatment. The walking program took place outside on a 1 mile/1,609 meter track. Before beginning the exercise program, participants should warm up for 5-10 minutes with a leisurely walk. In this case, the participant’s mileage is 1 mile. The instrument used to measure blood pressure in this study was an aneroid sphygmomanometer, while a glucometer was used to measure blood glucose levels. Results: This study found that: Based on the Mann-Whitney test, it showed that there was a significant effect of walking exercise on decreasing systolic blood pressure (p 0.005), diastolic blood pressure (p 0.018), and reducing blood sugar (p 0.031). Conclusion: Walking exercise has a significant effect on blood pressure and blood glucose in the elderly.