Stay Strong, Stay Healthy exercise program improves health
MU professor Steve Ball explains how University of Missouri researchers found that the 8-week program made a difference in older adults' health.
October 16, 2020
Transcript
Brian Consiglio: Experts recommend strength training at least two times a week to stay healthy, but it can be difficult for older adults to find safe and effective workouts. That’s why MU Extension provides the Stay Strong, Stay Healthy program, an instructor-led course that consists of simple exercises, like squats and bicep curls, to help reduce frailty, osteoporosis and the risk of falls.
Now, researchers from the University of Missouri are studying the 8-week program’s impact. MM School of Medicine researcher Dana Duren said the program made a difference in participants’ health in a variety of ways.
Duren: “We found that the stay strong stay healthy participants improved significantly in their strength, in their balance and in their sleep quality.”
Consiglio: Researchers found that participants in the program improved their scores nearly 20 percent on leg strength and endurance exercises, along with improving 35 percent on a test that measures shoulder flexibility. MU Department of Nutrition and Exercise professor Steve Ball said that these findings show that the training is evidence-based and could be used to help expand the program to help more older adults.
Ball: “All of those things are related to seniors maintaining independence and reducing the risk for falls, and reducing health care costs.”
Consiglio: I’m Brian Consiglio with a Spotlight on Mizzou.
Related Stories

Spotlight on Mizzou
Exposure to diverse career paths can help fill labor market ‘skills gap’
MU research study shows that an aptitude test can help steer women, underrepresented groups toward high-demand STEM careers.

Spotlight on Mizzou
Focus on the positive to improve classroom behavior
MU research study finds setting clear expectations can reduce disruptive classroom behavior and boost student academic, social outcomes for middle schoolers.

Spotlight on Mizzou
Asian carp could pulverize world hunger, MU researcher finds
Powdering Asian carp could address an environmental problem and a global malnutrition crisis.

Spotlight on Mizzou
MU Research Reactor to supply radioisotope for targeted cancer therapy
The University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR®) has entered into an exclusive multi-year agreement with Advanced Accelerator Applications International to provide a key ingredient in a targeted therapy for certain types of cancerous tumors.
Subscribe to
Show Me Mizzou
Stay up-to-date on all things Mizzou when you subscribe to the Show Me Mizzou newsletter. Issues will arrive in your inbox every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.