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Levinger P, Dreher BL, Soh SE, Dow B, Batchelor F, Hill KD. Results from the ENJOY MAP for HEALTH: a quasi experiment evaluating the impact of age-friendly outdoor exercise equipment to increase older people's park visitations and physical activity. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1663. [PMID: 38909183 PMCID: PMC11193282 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19042-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recreational parks can play a significant role in older people's health, with emerging evidence suggesting that changes in the physical environment, such as refurbishments of local parks, can increase park visitations and physical activity engagement. The ENJOY MAP for HEALTH aimed to evaluate the impact of Seniors Exercise Park installations and associated capacity building activities on older people's park visitation, and park-based physical activity. METHOD The ENJOY MAP for HEALTH was a quasi-experiment study design that involved the installation of specialised Seniors Exercise Park equipment as part of park refurbishment, supported by promotion and community capacity building activities in six municipalities in Victoria, Australia. Direct observations of park users took place prior to park upgrades, one-month post upgrade and 12-months from baseline. The overall number and characteristics of park visitors, and the type and level of physical activity undertaken, were summarised descriptively. Generalised linear models were used to examine the impact of park refurbishment (equipment installation and site activation) on the total number of older people observed in the park, and their engagement in physical activity, accounting for site and seasonal effects. RESULTS Overall number of visits increased following park upgrades, with the largest number of visitors observed one-month post upgrade (n = 12,501). The proportion of older people observed at the parks remained relatively low prior to and one-month post upgrade compared to other age groups. However, after adjusting for site and seasonal effects, the number of older people observed in the parks increased significantly post upgrade and site activation compared to prior to the refurbishment (incidence rate ratios (IRR) 3.55; 95% CI 2.68, 4.70). The number of older people observed to be exercising at the Seniors Exercise Park also increased by 100% at 12-months post-installation relative to one-month post upgrade (IRR 2.00; 95% CI 1.26, 3.17). CONCLUSION Installation of the Seniors Exercise Parks and the supportive programs and activities following six park upgrades resulted in an increase in older people's park visitation and engagement in physical activity. Community engagement and training of volunteers with the support of local governments are likely to contribute to the increased park usage by older people. TRIAL REGISTRATION This trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry. Trial registration number ACTRN12621000965808. https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=380745&isReview=true .
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Affiliation(s)
- Pazit Levinger
- National Ageing Research Institute, Royal Melbourne Hospital, PO Box 2127, Melbourne, 3050, Australia.
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
- Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Bronwyn L Dreher
- National Ageing Research Institute, Royal Melbourne Hospital, PO Box 2127, Melbourne, 3050, Australia
- Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sze-Ee Soh
- Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Briony Dow
- National Ageing Research Institute, Royal Melbourne Hospital, PO Box 2127, Melbourne, 3050, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Australia
| | - Frances Batchelor
- National Ageing Research Institute, Royal Melbourne Hospital, PO Box 2127, Melbourne, 3050, Australia
- Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Keith D Hill
- Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Levinger P, Dreher BL, Dow B, Batchelor F, Hill KD. Older people's views and usage of recreational spaces in parks with age-friendly outdoor exercise equipment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38628030 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2024.2342021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Recreational spaces are important public spaces for people of all ages to engage in leisure and physical activities, however older people remain one of the lowest users of park. This study investigated older people's perceptions and reasons for visiting parks that have undergone refurbishment with the installation of age-friendly outdoor exercise equipment, the Seniors Exercise Park. On-site intercept surveys took place in six parks in Victoria, Australia. Seniors Exercise Park equipment usage was audited over 12 months using on-site Quick Response (QR). A total of 139 older people were surveyed, 55.4% reported visiting to exercise, 25.9% for walking and 21.5% for fresh air/nature. Proximity to home/family (37.4%) and the availability of the Seniors Exercise Park equipment (36.7%) were the main reasons for visiting these parks. The availability of age-suitable exercise equipment in recreational spaces can support and encourage older people to access local parks and engage in physical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pazit Levinger
- Clinical Gerontology, National Ageing Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
- Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Bronwyn L Dreher
- Clinical Gerontology, National Ageing Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Briony Dow
- Clinical Gerontology, National Ageing Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Frances Batchelor
- Clinical Gerontology, National Ageing Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Keith D Hill
- Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Marcos-Pardo PJ, Espeso-García A, Vaquero-Cristóbal R, Abelleira-Lamela T, González-Gálvez N. The Effect of Resistance Training with Outdoor Fitness Equipment on the Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Physical Health of Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:726. [PMID: 38610148 PMCID: PMC11011249 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12070726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This study examined the effect of outdoor-fitness-equipment-based resistance training on the health parameters of middle-aged and older adults, as well as analyzing the effect of age on the results found. A total of 149 volunteers were randomly assigned to the training (TG) and control (CG) groups. The TG performed two weekly sessions of resistance training for 8 weeks using outdoor fitness equipment, while the CG continued with their regular daily activities. Body composition was measured using DXA, and the maximal isometric voluntary contraction in knee extension, elbow flexion, and hand grip were assessed, along with the 4 m walk test, the Timed Up and Go Test, and the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire. The TG showed a significant increase in the lean mass index (p = 0.002) and maximal isometric voluntary contraction in both legs (p < 0.001) and arms (p < 0.001), as well as in physical functioning (p < 0.001) and the role physical dimension (p = 0.006) of the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire, compared to the CG, which showed a decrease in all these variables. In addition, the TG showed a greater decrease in fat mass (p < 0.001), fat mass index (p = 0.003), and the Timed Up and Go Test (p < 0.001) than the CG. Age conditioned the evolution of most of the variables analyzed (p < 0.05). In conclusion, resistance training with outdoor fitness equipment may be useful for improving the health of middle-aged and older adults, although age is a factor that could influence the adaptations found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo J. Marcos-Pardo
- Centro de Investigación para el Bienestar y la Inclusión Social (CIBIS Research Center), SPORT Research Group (CTS-1024), Department of Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain;
- Active Aging, Exercise and Health/HEALTHY-AGE Network, Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), Ministry of Culture and Sport of Spain, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Alejandro Espeso-García
- Injury Prevention in Sport Research Group (PRELEDE), Facultad de Deporte, UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain;
| | - Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal
- Active Aging, Exercise and Health/HEALTHY-AGE Network, Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), Ministry of Culture and Sport of Spain, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Department of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Murcia, 30720 Murcia, Spain
| | - Tomás Abelleira-Lamela
- Injury Prevention in Sport Research Group (PRELEDE), Facultad de Deporte, UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain;
| | - Noelia González-Gálvez
- Active Aging, Exercise and Health/HEALTHY-AGE Network, Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), Ministry of Culture and Sport of Spain, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Research Group on Health, Physical Activity, Fitness and Motor Behaviour (GISAFFCOM), Facultad de Deporte, UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain
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Marcos-Pardo PJ, Espeso-García A, Vaquero-Cristóbal R, Abelleira-Lamela T, Esparza-Ros F, González-Gálvez N. Physical and psychological effects of outdoor fitness equipment training on middle-aged and older adults: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2023; 9:e001829. [PMID: 38169819 PMCID: PMC10759096 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
This project will investigate the effectiveness of an 8-week outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) programme on health parameters in healthy community-dwelling middle and older adults, corresponding to the present paper to the study protocol, which follows a single-blind randomised controlled trial design. The training intervention will involve participation in an OFE programme implemented over 8 weeks, two sessions/week. Rating of perceived exertion, heart rate, training volume and adherence to the exercise programme will be registered each session. The control group will not receive any structured exercise programme. Blinded examiners will evaluate before and after the training programme muscle strength with both maximum knee extension and elbow flexion isometric tests, handgrip strength test and five time sit-to-stand test; cardiovascular fitness with 400-metre walking test; postural stability with the balance tests of the short physical performance battery (SPPB) battery; dynamic balance with Timed Up and Go (TUG) test; body composition with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; functional performance by gait speed, TUG and SPPB battery; blood pressure; and sagittal spine disposition and pelvic tilt. Information will also be collected about demographic characteristics, health-related quality of life, satisfaction with life and adherence to the Mediterranean diet questionnaires. After that, sarcopenia, osteoporosis and fracture risk will be calculated. The results derived from this research will increase the knowledge of the effectiveness of OFE training for improving the health of healthy community-dwelling middle and older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Jorge Marcos-Pardo
- CIBIS Research Center, SPORT Research Group (CTS-1024), University of Almeria, Almeria, Andalucía, Spain
- Active Aging, Exercise and Health/HEALTHY-AGE Network, Consejo Superior de Deportes, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal
- Active Aging, Exercise and Health/HEALTHY-AGE Network, Consejo Superior de Deportes, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Murcia, Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Francisco Esparza-Ros
- Active Aging, Exercise and Health/HEALTHY-AGE Network, Consejo Superior de Deportes, Madrid, Spain
- International Chair of Kineanthropometry, UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia, Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Noelia González-Gálvez
- Active Aging, Exercise and Health/HEALTHY-AGE Network, Consejo Superior de Deportes, Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Deporte, UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia, Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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