RESEARCH

Older Phase 2 Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients Engaged in Gardening Maintained Physical Function During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The results of the study showed that the group who gardened did not have any significant changes in their heart rate, blood pressure, or ratings of perceived exertion after their cardiac rehabilitation was interrupted. However, the group who did not garden experienced a significant increase in their peak heart rate (p = 0.004) and reported a significant worsening in their Borg scale scores for both shortness of breath (p = 0.039) and fatigue in their lower extremities (p = 0.009) after the interruption.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Older Adults/Seniors, Rehabilitation, Chronic/Acute Health Conditions

Setting or Context: Hospitals/Clinics, Rehabilitation Centers, Community Gardens, Homes/Private Residences

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Physical Health, Improved Balance, Increase in Standing or Walking Tolerance

Allied Profession Intersections: Physical Therapy, Nursing

Type of Activity: Outdoor Gardening, Edible Plant Gardening

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Observational Research, Quantitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Physical Health, Patient-Reported Outcomes, Program Effectiveness

Access: Free

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Summary

This study looked at whether gardening helped older adults with heart problems stay physically fit when their usual cardiac rehabilitation (CR) was put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers at Sanda City Hospital in Japan studied 76 people who were doing phase 2 CR, which is an outpatient program to help people recover from heart issues. The study focused on two periods in 2020: before and after CR was interrupted. To be included, patients had to be over 65 and have had their CR stopped due to the pandemic. The study compared 41 patients who either did gardening regularly (the gardener group) or didn’t (the non-gardener group). The researchers looked at things like heart rate, blood pressure, and how tired the patients felt during exercise done at the same intensity before and after the break in CR. They also collected information on the type of gardening and other factors.

The study defined gardening as growing mainly fruits and vegetables near their home, where the produce was mainly for their own use and not their main source of income. The researchers compared the gardener group (11 people) to the non-gardener group (30 people) to see if there were any changes in their physical condition after the interruption of their cardiac rehabilitation. They measured heart rate during rest and at the peak of exercise, blood pressure at rest and after exercise, and how the patients rated their shortness of breath and leg fatigue using a scale called the Borg scale.

Link

Ogura, A., Izawa, K.P., Tawa, H. et al. (2022). Older phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation patients engaged in gardening maintained physical function during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heart Vessels, 37(1), 77-82

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