Older Adults’ Experiences With the Visual Physio-Feedback Technology and Peer-Led Combined Group and Home-Based Exercises

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2019-0422 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Ladda Thiamwong

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Program Completion ◽

Study Approach ◽

Home Based ◽

Cognitive Reframing ◽

Program Intervention ◽

Physical Activity Adherence ◽

Peer Coach

This study aimed to explore older adults’ experience with an in-home Physio-feEdback and Exercise pRogram and explore whether the Physio-feEdback and Exercise pRogram intervention influenced their physical activity adherence. A qualitative study approach was employed, and data were collected using exercise logs, observations, focus groups, and open-ended questions after the program completion. Nineteen participants who engaged in an 8-week Physio-feEdback and Exercise pRogram intervention participated in this study. Thematic analysis was used. Three major concepts of the self-determination theory, including competence, relatedness, and autonomy, were used as guidelines for coding. Results reveal three themes, including: (a) competence-alignment of body and mind and increased awareness about fall risk, (b) relatedness-relationship with peer coach and having fun with friends, and (c) autonomy-integration of exercise into daily activities for staying physically and socially active. Individuals’ need for competence and autonomy can be supported by giving physio-feedback, cognitive reframing, and peer-led exercise, which can enhance physical activity and prevent falls.

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Aging and Physical Activity: A Qualitative Study of Basic Psychological Needs and Motivation in a Blended Home-Based Exercise Program for Older Adults

Self-Determination Theory and Healthy Aging ◽

10.1007/978-981-15-6968-5_7 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 127-144

Author(s):

Sumit Mehra ◽

Jantine van den Helder ◽

Ben J. A. Kröse ◽

Raoul H. H. Engelbert ◽

Peter J. M. Weijs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Psychological Needs ◽

Basic Psychological Needs ◽

Home Based

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Strategies to Support Physical Activity Participation in Older Adults With Heart Failure

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1469 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 454-454

Author(s):

Katherine Hall ◽

Amy Pastva ◽

Heather King ◽

Sean Lowers ◽

Julie Miller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Heart Failure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Rehabilitation Program ◽

Exercise Rehabilitation ◽

Supervised Exercise ◽

Home Based ◽

Health Burdens

Abstract Physical activity (PA) is recommended for people living with heart failure (HF). Despite evidence of its benefits, participation in PA is low in this population, putting them at risk for loss of functional independence and additional health burdens. The aim of this pilot study was to ask older adults living with stable, chronic HF to identify strategies to support regular PA. Patients in an outpatient HF rehabilitation program were recruited to participate in focus groups about their PA knowledge, attitudes, and preferences as part of a stakeholder engagement project. At the beginning of the focus group, participants completed a questionnaire listing 8 potential strategies to optimize PA, and were asked to identify the top 4 strategies that they thought would be most beneficial to support regular PA participation. This was the focus of the current analysis. Thirteen adults with HF (M age=65; 46% female; 62% African American; M BMI=32.6 kg/m2) were enrolled. Top-rated strategies endorsed by participants to support long-term adherence to PA included provision of an exercise guide to support home-based exercise and supplement health provider-supervised exercise sessions (69%), group education classes (64%), completion of fitness assessments at regular intervals (62%), and provision of a transition pathway from an exercise rehabilitation program to a community-based exercise program (62%). The remaining strategies were endorsed by fewer than 50% of participants, and included remote delivery and support options. These results have important implications for future program development and implementation efforts to support PA among older adults with stable, chronic HF.

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Impact of the Home Confinement Related to COVID-19 on the Device-Assessed Physical Activity and Sedentary Patterns of Spanish Older Adults

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2021/5528866 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Ángel I. Fernández-García ◽

Jorge Marin-Puyalto ◽

Alba Gómez-Cabello ◽

Ángel Matute-Llorente ◽

Jorge Subías-Perié ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Sedentary Time ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Sedentary Behaviours ◽

Home Based ◽

Phase 0 ◽

Sedentary Bouts

The main objective of this study was to device-assess the levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns of older adults during the situation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, home confinement, and phase-0 of the deescalation. We also aimed to analyse the effectiveness of an unsupervised home-based exercise routine to counteract the potential increase in sedentary behaviour during the periods within the pandemic. A total of 18 noninstitutionalized older adults( 78.4 ± 6.0 y.), members of the Spanish cohort of the EXERNET-Elder 3.0 project, participated in the study. They were recommended to perform an exercise prescription based on resistance, balance, and aerobic exercises during the pandemic. Wrist triaxial accelerometers (ActiGraph GT9X) were used to assess the percentage of sedentary time, physical activity, sedentary bouts and breaks of sedentary time. An ANOVA for repeated measures was performed to analyse the differences between the three different periods. During home quarantine, older adults spent more time in sedentary behaviours ( 71.6 ± 5.3 % ) in comparison with either the situation prior to the pandemic ( 65.5 ± 6.7 % ) or the ending of isolation ( 67.7 ± 7.1 % ) (all p < 0.05 ). Moreover, participants performed less bouts of physical activity and with a shorter duration during home quarantine (both p < 0.05 ). Additionally, no differences in the physical activity behaviours were found between the situation prior to the pandemic and the phase-0 of deescalation. According to our results, the home confinement could negatively affect health due to increased sedentary lifestyle and the reduction of physical activity. Therefore, our unsupervised exercise program does not seem to be a completely effective strategy at least in this period.

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Feasibility, Usability and Enjoyment of a Home-based, Multi-component Exercise Program for Musculoskeletal Health Delivered via a Tablet Computer Exercise App for Community-dwelling Older Adults: An 8-week Prospective Pilot Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.21094 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Robin M Daly ◽

Jenny Gianoudis ◽

Travis Hall ◽

Niamh Mundell ◽

Ralph Maddison

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Exercise Prescription ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Tablet Computer ◽

Musculoskeletal Health ◽

Home Based ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Activity Enjoyment

BACKGROUND Many older adults choose and prefer to exercise at home, but to attain the greatest benefits the correct type and dose should be prescribed and adherence maintained. Advances in digital health technologies now provide the opportunity for exercise professionals to deliver and monitor personalized, evidence-based exercise programs to anyone at anytime. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility, usability and enjoyment of an online exercise prescription application as a platform for exercise professionals to remotely deliver and monitor an individually-tailored, home-based multi-component exercise program (delivered through tablet computers) to older adults living independently in the community. METHODS This was an 8-week, prospective single-arm pilot study in 20 adults aged ≥65 years living independently in the community [10 who owned a tablet computer (tablet owners) and 10 who did not (tablet non-owners)]. All participants were prescribed a home-based, muscle strengthening, weight-bearing impact and challenging balance/mobility program (3 days/week) using a commercial exercise prescription application (app) on a tablet computer. Study endpoints were feasibility (retention, adherence, adverse events), usability (System Usability Scale), physical activity enjoyment (Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale), changes in lower extremity function [Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)], and level of physical activity (questionnaire). Process measures related to participants’ experiences and perceptions of the exercise program and online application were also included. RESULTS A total of 19 participants (mean age 70 years) completed the study (19 of 20, 95%) and mean adherence to the exercise program was 84% (95% CI, 70, 97). There were two minor adverse events in two participants from 401 completed sessions. Mean weekly walking time increased by 78 minutes [(95% CI, 0, 156), P=.049] and moderate-vigorous physical activity time by 41 minutes [(95% CI, -8, 90), P=.09]. For SPPB scores, there was a 0.3 point [(95% CI, -0.1, 0.7), P=.17] modest sized (effect size, d=0.42) improvement after 8 weeks. Mean system usability was high (mean  SD, 86  10 with 100 best imaginable]. There was no change in overall physical activity enjoyment scores after 8 weeks, but participants reported that they enjoyed using the online exercise app and the exercise program (median score 4 on a 5-point Likert scale). For all measures, there were no differences between previous tablet owners and non-owners. CONCLUSIONS This pilot feasibility study indicates that it is safe and feasible for community-dwelling older adults to participate in a home-based, multi-component exercise program targeting musculoskeletal health and function that was delivered and monitored remotely by exercise professionals using a tablet-based exercise prescription app.

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Translating Behavior Change Principles Into a Blended Exercise Intervention for Older Adults: Design Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.9244 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Sumit Mehra ◽

Bart Visser ◽

Tessa Dadema ◽

Jantine van den Helder ◽

Raoul HH Engelbert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Behavior Change ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Age Related ◽

Home Based ◽

Change Principles ◽

Remote Feedback ◽

Blended Intervention

BACKGROUND Physical activity can prevent or delay age-related impairments and prolong the ability of older adults to live independently. Community-based programs typically offer classes where older adults can exercise only once a week under the guidance of an instructor. The health benefits of such programs vary. Exercise frequency and the duration of the program play a key role in realizing effectiveness. An auxiliary home-based exercise program can provide older adults the opportunity to exercise more regularly over a prolonged period of time in the convenience of their own homes. Furthermore, mobile electronic devices can be used to motivate and remotely guide older adults to exercise in a safe manner. Such a blended intervention, where technology is combined with personal guidance, needs to incorporate behavior change principles to ensure effectiveness. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify theory-based components of a blended intervention that supports older adults to exercise at home. METHODS The Medical Research Council framework was used to develop the blended intervention. Insights from focus group, expert panels, and literature were combined into leading design considerations. RESULTS A client-server system had been developed that combined a tablet app with a database in the cloud and a Web-based dashboard that can be used by a personal coach to remotely monitor and guide older adults. The app contains several components that facilitate behavior change—an interactive module for goal setting, the ability to draw up a personal training schedule from a library containing over 50 exercise videos, progress monitoring, and possibilities to receive remote feedback and guidance of a personal coach. CONCLUSIONS An evidence-based blended intervention was designed to promote physical activity among older adults. The underlying design choices were underpinned by behavior change techniques that are rooted in self-regulation. Key components of the tablet-supported intervention were a tailored program that accommodates individual needs, demonstrations of functional exercises, monitoring, and remote feedback. The blended approach combines the convenience of a home-based exercise program for older adults with the strengths of mobile health and personal guidance.

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