Outdoor gyms and older adults – acceptability, enablers and barriers: a survey of park users

Abstract

Issue addressed Increasing the proportion of older adults meeting current recommendations for physical activity is important. This study aimed to determine the acceptability of outdoor gym use among older adults by assessing their outdoor gym use, intention to use, motivators, frequency and preference for use, and barriers and enablers to use. Methods Interviews were conducted with 438 consenting English speaking park users≥50 years after installation and promotion of an outdoor gym. Results Forty-two percent of older adults interviewed had used the outdoor gym. Outdoor gym users had a significantly higher proportion of local residents (χ=10.43; P<0.01), were more frequent park users (χ=8.75; P<0.01) and spoke a language other than English (χ=15.44; P<0.0001) compared with general park users. Shade and different equipment types were the most cited enablers. Conclusions Outdoor gyms may be an acceptable form of physical activity for older adult park users. Installations should offer a variety of equipment types and shade. So what? Outdoor gyms are a potential equitable approach to engaging older adults in a variety of physical activity types. Social and physical benefits of outdoor gym use in high risk groups for physical inactivity should be explored.

Outdoor physical activity for older people—the senior exercise park: Current research, challenges and future directions

“…Outdoor exercise has been shown to improve mood and self‐esteem in older people where natural environments may have direct and positive impacts on wellbeing . Moreover, the use of outdoor gyms was reported as a potential equitable approach to engaging older adults in a variety of physical activity types . Consequently, exercising outdoors may increase enjoyment and provide social connectedness and support as reported with the use of the seniors’ exercise park and thus can lead to positive behaviour changes and sustained physical activity participation.…”

“…Group exercise can also be a good socialisation opportunity, with exercise sessions led by an allied health professional and administered via local community health organisations. Instructional exercise classes were identified previously as an important enabler by women to use outdoor gym equipment . This will introduce correct use of the equipment and exercise procedures, particularly for older people with comorbidities, as well as to provide an alternative for frail older people or those who prefer to be supervised.…”

“…12 Moreover, the use of outdoor gyms was reported as a potential equitable approach to engaging older adults in a variety of physical activity types. 13 Consequently, exercising outdoors may increase enjoyment and provide social connectedness and support as reported with the use of the seniors' exercise park 10…”

A Typology of Factors Influencing Seniors’ Participation in Strength Training in Gyms and Fitness Centers

“…To some degree, this need is being met through the increasing availability of outdoor strength equipment, often situated in parks and other walking precincts (Sales, Polman, Hill, Karaharju-Huisman, & Levinger, 2015;Scott, Stride, Neville, & Hua, 2014). This form of strength training may be especially appealing to older people because of the connection with walking as a preferred form of exercise for this population (Stride, Cranney, Scott, & Hua, 2017). Gyms and fitness centers may learn from this development to create exercise environments that are more attuned to seniors' preferences, such as by providing outdoor components to exercise programs and finding alternatives to the loud music that is often a feature of modern centers.…”

How to Achieve a Healthier and More Sustainable Europe by 2040 According to the Public? Results of a Five-Country Questionnaire Survey

“…Few studies from non-European countries have shown that outdoor gyms mostly serve for adult and older adult groups. Outdoor gyms seem to be acceptable even for older adults according to an Australian study which showed that forty-two percent of park users above 50 years old had used an outdoor gym [ 44 ]. Outdoor gyms seem not only to be positively evaluated by users as pursuing health [ 45 ], but also to be used on a regular basis and thus raise the level of moderate to vigorous physical activity in parks [ 46 ].…”