The impact of the ENJOY Seniors Exercise Park on physical activity, physical function and health in older people
Oral Presentation A1.3
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.378Keywords:
Built-Environment, Older People, Physical ActivityAbstract
Background: The ENJOY project (Exercise interveNtion outdoor proJect in the cOmmunitY for older people) is a community research project actively promoting physical activity engagement and well-being through the delivery of an exercise program using outdoor multimodal exercise equipment (the Seniors Exercise Park https://youtu.be/PaYuCMtnlYk). Purpose: This study investigated the impact of the physical activity program, on health, physical function, and falls in older people. Method: Inactive older people (with increased falls risk) were recruited and underwent a 3-month supervised outdoors exercise program followed by 6-month maintenance phase (unstructured physical activity program). Participants’ physical activity, physical function, falls and health related quality of life were assessed at baseline, 3-months and 9-months, with an overall 12-months falls record follow up. Results: Eighty people completed the 3-month intervention, 58 completed the 9-month assessment (due to COVID-19 restrictions), with 54 available for the 12-months falls analysis. A significant improvement in physical activity, physical function (p<0.01), self-rated quality of life (p<0.05), wellbeing (p<0.01), fear of falls (p<0.01), falls risk (p<0.01), depressive symptoms (p=0.01) and loneliness (p=0.03) were reported at 3-months. The improvement in physical activity and physical function was maintained at 9 month. Number of fallers (from 51.8% to 31.4%, p=0.03) and falls incidence (from 42 to 29 falls, p<0.01) were significantly reduced at the 12-months follow up. Conclusion: The Seniors Exercise Park program offers various health and physical benefits, and can be an important public health infrastructure investment in promoting physical activity for older people. Funding: Gandel Philanthropy.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Pazit Levinger, Jeremy Dunn, Maya Panisset, Terry Haines, Briony Dow, Frances Batchelor, Stuart Biddle, Gustavo Duque, Keith Hill
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Terms of Publication
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the Health & Fitness Journal of Canada’s right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
- The Contributor (author(s)) represents and guarantees that the Contributor is the sole proprietor of the work and the Contributor has full power to make this Agreement and grant that the work does not infringe the copyright or other proprietary right of any other person; and the work contains no libellous or other unlawful matter and makes no improper invasion of the privacy of any other person. The Contributor also represents and is responsible for the accuracy of the work.
- The Contributor will read, correct, and return promptly galleys and page proofs to the Editor (or designate). The Contributor will be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of these corrections. If the Contributor does not return galleys and page proofs within the schedule agreed upon with the Editor (or designate), the Publisher may proceed without the Contributor corrections.
- When applicable, the Contributor agrees to obtain written permissions and letters of agreement for all matter contained in the work that is protected by existing copyright, paying any permission fees for the use of text or illustrations controlled by others, and furnishing the Publisher with written evidence of the copyright owner’s authorization to use the material.
- When applicable, the Contributor agrees to obtain written permission for inclusion of any photographic materials involving a human subject, and provide the Publisher with written evidence of the subject’s authorization to use this material. In the case of subjects who have not reached the age of majority, the Contributor agrees to obtain and furnish the Publisher with written permission from the parent and/or legal guardian.
- The Contributor may draw on and refer to material in the work in preparing other articles for publication in scholarly and professional journals and papers for delivery at professional meetings, provided that credit is given to the work and to the Publisher.
- This agreement may not be changed unless the Contributor and the Publisher agree to the change by means of a formal addendum signed by the Contributor and the Publisher’s representative.
- This agreement shall be construed and governed according to the laws of the province of British Columbia and shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their heirs, successors, assigns, and personal representatives. Should any formal proceedings related to this agreement be brought, such formal proceeding may be brought only in the province of British Columbia.
By submitting an article to the Health & Fitness Journal of Canada the Contributor has accepted and agreed to all terms outlined in the copyright notice.
