Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, 90 MacKay Dr, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, Canada.
Cardiometabolic Exercise & Lifestyle Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, 90 Mackay Drive, Room 105, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, Canada.
BMC Geriatr. 2022 Jan 3;22(1):14. doi: 10.1186/s12877-021-02712-x.
Most older adults do not engage in regular physical activity. However, more research on options to partake in regular exercise in this population by reducing barriers and enhancing enablers while still reaching benefits is needed.
Using embedded mixed methods, 10 inactive older adults over the age of 65 completed a 3-week square-stepping exercise intervention to help overcome the initial barriers and activate initial enablers to perform regular exercise. Physical activity level was tracked at home with a pedometer using median steps/day over seven days for pre-post measure. Aerobic intensity while doing square-stepping exercises was quantified via a heart rate monitor in a supervised session. Each participant had an interview asking about barriers and enablers to regular exercise and if the intervention could modify any. Based on initial physical activity a framework matrix was used to pull potential barriers to compare, contrast, and search for patterns between participants with lower and higher initial physical activity levels.
The 3-week square-stepping exercise intervention helped participants overcome barriers such as being uncomfortable in a fitness facility and body image and activate enablers such as the use of home equipment and convenience. The median total steps/day increased by 12% (p = 0.02), and a moderate-intensity level was reached by 80% of the sample participants when performing the square stepping exercise during a supervised session. Common barriers such as having a suitable program, hard to keep the intensity were reported by participants regardless of the initial physical activity level.
Regardless of initial physical activity level, inactive older adults can increase physical activity level at the recommended intensity and overcome common barriers to exercise when performing square-stepping exercises, especially for those intimidated by a fitness facility setting and those concerned with their body image. A longer intervention including more participants using the square-stepping exercises is required to understand if square-stepping exercises can increase the proportion of older adults exercising regularly.
大多数老年人不经常参加体育活动。然而，需要更多的研究来探讨如何通过减少障碍和增强促进因素，让这一人群定期参加运动，同时获得益处。
采用嵌入式混合方法，10 名 65 岁以上的不活跃老年人完成了为期 3 周的踏四方步锻炼干预，以帮助克服最初的障碍，激活最初的促进因素，使他们定期进行锻炼。使用计步器在家中跟踪身体活动水平，通过 7 天的中位数步数/天进行前后测量。在监督会议上，通过心率监测器量化进行踏四方步运动时的有氧运动强度。每位参与者都接受了一次访谈，询问他们进行常规锻炼的障碍和促进因素，以及干预是否可以改变这些因素。根据最初的身体活动水平，使用框架矩阵来比较、对比和寻找身体活动水平较低和较高的参与者之间的潜在障碍模式。
3 周的踏四方步锻炼干预帮助参与者克服了在健身场所感到不适和身体形象等障碍，并激活了使用家庭设备和便利性等促进因素。参与者的平均每日总步数增加了 12%（p=0.02），在监督会议上进行踏四方步运动时，80%的样本参与者达到了中等强度水平。无论初始身体活动水平如何，参与者都报告了一些常见的障碍，如缺乏合适的项目、难以保持强度等。
无论初始身体活动水平如何，不活跃的老年人都可以在推荐的强度下提高身体活动水平，并克服锻炼的常见障碍，特别是对于那些对健身场所环境感到恐惧和对自己身体形象感到担忧的人。需要进行更长时间的干预，包括更多使用踏四方步运动的参与者，以了解踏四方步运动是否可以增加定期锻炼的老年人比例。
