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Sami (Papacek) Mansfield: Functional fitness means more than movement

Sami (Papacek) Mansfield/LinkedIn

Dec 11, 2024, 17:06

Sami (Papacek) Mansfield: Functional fitness means more than movement

Sami (Papacek) Mansfield, Founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, shared on LinkedIn:

“For older adults, maintaining independence starts with strength. For cancer patients, loss of function, increased fatigue, and debility is not age dependent.

But here’s the bigger question:

Can we design programs that are effective, accessible, and life-changing—for both?

This question stayed with me as I read a study comparing two approaches to improving functional mobility in adults aged 65–75:

– Progressive stair-climbing programs
– Traditional resistance training

The results?

Participants in the stair-climbing program showed significant improvement in stair-climbing performance—while also achieving similar gains in gait speed, leg strength, and jump performance as the resistance training group.

Why does this matter?

For older adults, functional fitness means more than movement—it’s about dignity, quality of life, and staying independent.

For cancer patients, it can preserve the strength and stamina needed to endure treatment or rebuild post-recovery.

Even better: A progressive step-up program can be done at home, eliminating barriers for those without access to gym equipment.

This research isn’t just about fitness. It’s about empowerment. It’s about creating solutions that meet people where they are—whether they’re seniors, patients, or caregivers.

What if we leveraged insights like these to make fitness truly inclusive? What would it take to expand this to even more communities?

Read the full study below.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Let’s discuss how we can make accessible, impactful programs the new norm..”

Stair-Climbing Versus Machine-Based Resistance Exercise to Improve Muscle Power Among Older Adults: A Noninferiority Trial

Authors: Evelien Van Roie, Jannique van Uffelen, Christophe Delecluse,

Sami (Papacek) Mansfield

Sami (Papacek) Mansfield is the founder of Cancer Wellness for Life. She’s been a certified cancer exercise specialist since 2003 and has dedicated her career to implementing evidence-based lifestyle education, resources and tools into cancer care for both the patients and the providers. She is also a Chair of Cancer Member Interest Group, at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and Breast Cancer Taskforce Co-Chair at Colorado Cancer Coalition.