Older people’s adherence to community-based group exercise programmes: a multiple-case study

Abstract

BackgroundPhysical inactivity is a global phenomenon, with estimates of one in four adults not being active enough to achieve health benefits, thus heightening the risk of developing non-communicable diseases. In order to realise the health and wellbeing gains associated with physical activity the behaviour must be sustained. Community-based group exercise programmes (CBGEP) utilising social supports have been shown to be one means of not only increasing activity levels for older people, but sustaining physical activity.A gap in the literature was identified around older people’s long-term adherence to real-life CBGEP within a UK context. This study therefore sought to address this gap by understanding older people’s ongoing adherence to CBGEP with a view to gaining further insight about which factors contribute to enabling people to sustain their physical activity levels.MethodsA multiple case study research design was employed to understand older people’s (≥60 years, n = 27) adherence (≥ 69%, for ≥ 1 year) to three current CBGEP in the South- West of England. Qualitative data (participant observation, focus groups, documents, and interviews) were collected and analysed using inductive thematic analysis followed by the analytic technique of explanation building. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and used to set the context of the study.ResultsThe current study offers five unique insights into real-life programmes which have been successful in helping older people maintain adherence for a year or longer. These included: factors relating to the individual, the instructor (particularly their personality, professionalism and humanised approach), programme design (including location, affordability, the use of music, and adaptable exercise content), social features which supported a sense of belonging, and participant perceived benefits (physical and psycho-social). These all served to explain older people’s adherence to CBGEP.ConclusionsThese factors related to participant adherence of CBGEP must be considered if we wish to support older people in sustaining a physically active lifestyle as they age. These findings are of interest to practitioners and policy makers in how CBGEP serve to aid older people in maintaining a physically active lifestyle with a view to preventing non-communicable diseases and in maintaining social connectivity.

Daily inspiratory muscle training lowers blood pressure and vascular resistance in healthy men and women

“…We show that IMT is a time‐efficient way to increase respiratory muscle strength and lower blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance in recreationally active young men and women. The beneficial effects of IMT on blood pressure are especially encouraging in view of declining rates of exercise (25–35%) reported among young, middle‐aged and older adults (Killingback, Tsofliou, & Clark, ; Tarasenko, Chen, & Schoenberg, ) and in view of the worldwide prevalence of hypertension (one in three adults; WHO, ). Determining how IMT impacts cardiovascular health in sedentary adults and whether it can confer additional improvements in exercise tolerance, exercise participation rates and feelings of physical and/or mental wellbeing are important next steps.…”

“…We show that IMT is a time-efficient way to increase respiratory muscle strength and lower blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance in recreationally active young men and women. The beneficial effects of IMT on blood pressure are especially encouraging in view of declining rates of exercise (25-35%) reported among young, middle-aged and older adults (Killingback, Tsofliou, & Clark, 2017;Tarasenko, Chen, & Schoenberg, 2016) and in view of the worldwide prevalence of hypertension (one in three adults; WHO, 2012).…”

“The people make it fun, the activities we do just make sure we turn up on time.” Factors influencing older adults’ participation in community-based group programmes in Perth, Western Australia

“…Other studies have restricted the sample to older adults who are part of a group (see, for example, Killingback, Tsofliou, & Clark, 2017) and remain silent on the experiences of older adults who do not participate or participate irregularly-a research gap previously highlighted by Hartley and Yeowell (2015). Notable exceptions include studies by Ribeiro et al (2015) and Whaley and Ebbeck (1997), both of which investigated barriers to older adults' participation in exercise programmes.…”

The Effect of Nordic Walking Training with Poles with an Integrated Resistance Shock Absorber on the Functional Fitness of Women over the Age of 60

“…One of the basic activities of everyday life is walking, which might be crucial in delaying decline in physical fitness and prevent limitation in self-reliance and consequent dependence on other people [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Nordic walking (NW) is one of the physical activities that can positively influence the walking ability.…”