Gardening gives older adults benefits like hand strength and s...( Researchers at Kansas State Universi...)
Researchers at Kansas State University already have shown that gardening can offer enough moderate physical activity to keep older adults in shape.
In research to be published in February in the journal HortScience, the researchers discovered that among the other health benefits of gardening is keeping older hands strong and nimble.
"One of the things we found is that older adults who are gardeners have better hand strength and pinch force, which is a big concern as you age," said Candice Shoemaker, K-State professor of horticulture.
Shoemaker is part of a small team of K-State researchers studying the ways in which gardening affects the health of older adults. She works with Mark Haub, associate professor of human nutrition, and Sin-Ae Park, a research associate in horticulture who earned her doctorate in horticulture from K-State in December 2007.
The research appearing in HortScience in February comes from a study that assessed 15 areas of health in older adults, from both those who garden and those who don't. The researchers looked at measurements like bone mineral density, sleep quality, physical fitness, hand strength and psychological well-being.
"We found that with gardening tasks older adults can, among other things, improve their hand strength and self-esteem at the same time," Park said.
Although Shoemaker said that differences between gardeners and non-gardeners showed up in a few health assessments like hand strength, overall physical health and self esteem, results from some of the other areas were more ambiguous.
"If we had a larger sample I think we would see more health differences between those who garden and those who don't, including in areas like sleep quality and life satisfaction," she said.
The results about the positive impact of gardening on hand strength prompted Park and the researchers to explore this area further. They are now analyzing data from
'/>"/>
| Contact: Candice Shoemaker cshoemak@k-state.edu 785-532-1431 Kansas State University Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. Gardening gives older adults benefits like hand strength and self esteem
2. Childrens gardening programs grow environmental stewards
3. UBC researcher gives first-ever estimate of worldwide fish biomass and impact on climate change
4. Soybean grant gives researchers tools to unravel better bean
5. Dunn Foundation gives Rice $3M for collaborative research grants
6. Rare genetic disorder gives clues to autism, epilepsy, mental retardation
7. St. Jude study gives new insights into how cells accessorize their proteins
8. USF professor gives historical look at physiology and WWII air war
9. New book gives a human face to children with congenital heart disease
10. UBC discovery unlocks tree genetics, gives new hope for pine beetle defense
11. Research finds older women who are more physically fit have better cognitive function
| Copyright © 2003-2009 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |