Health-related quality of life and balance confidence among participants in a senior community-based exercise (SWIFT) program compared to age matched controls: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Staying Well, Independent and Fit Together (SWIFT), a seniors' exercise program, aims to promote health, strength, mobility and community engagement. We compared quality of life and balance confidence in SWIFT participants and non-participants, aged 60 years and older.

Methods: Cross-sectional study comparing participants and non-participants in SWIFT program using Older People's Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABCS).

Results: Seventy participants completed surveys, 41 in experimental and 29 in control group. We found a statistically significant between group difference favoring the control group in overall OPQOL score but not in OPQOL subscale nor overall ABCS scores. Participants in both groups participating in weekly exercises had non-significantly higher quality of life subscale scores.

Conclusion: Results suggest seniors in both study groups who participate in exercise have non-significantly higher quality of life scores compared to those who do not participate in exercise. Participation in the SWIFT exercise program or activity in general, contributes to quality of life in seniors.