For many Butterfield residents, the Village’s fitness and wellness program is considered a top campus amenity. Participants know anecdotally that regular exercise can have a great impact on their physical and emotional health, but receiving personalized data about their performance can be especially motivating.
After a four-year hiatus, the BTV wellness team is excited to reintroduce the Senior Fitness Test for all interested residents. The entire process takes just 20 minutes and is designed to evaluate key areas of fitness for each individual – including aerobic fitness, muscular strength, endurance, balance and flexibility. Performing well with these components can contribute to maintaining independence and reducing the risk of falls, a leading concern for seniors. Regular fitness testing also helps detect potential health issues early, enabling timely interventions that could prevent more serious problems later.
For several years, BTV partnered with the University of Arkansas exercise science program to assess residents on six standard fitness measures. Butterfield’s longstanding reputation for its robust fitness offerings made the residents appealing research subjects – and, unsurprisingly, resident data collected multiple times over a few years told a great story: Village residents performed significantly better overall than the national average in multiple age categories.
Butterfield’s plans to return to a biennial testing schedule will not only help participants better track and monitor fitness progress. Test results will be prescriptive, with suggestions of individualized options to help maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Personalized exercise plans will be tailored to target unique needs, such as improving balance, boosting endurance or building strength. In addition to tracking progress, regular testing can be a strong motivator to stay active. Anticipation of being re-tested every two years encourages consistency in embracing a fitness routine and helps people stay on track with measurable goals.
The testing of all eight physical measures only lasts about ten minutes, and the results are reviewed with each participant by a Butterfield fitness team member immediately afterward. BTV residents are encouraged to sign up for an appointment at the Transportation Desk. The timeline for testing will extend through December 2024.
Senior Fitness Measures assessed at Butterfield:
• 30-Second Chair Stand
• Arm Curls
• 2-Minute Step Test
• Hand Grip Strength
• Chair Sit and Reach
• Back Scratch
• 8-Foot Up and Go
• One-Leg Stand
