Exercise parks built specifically for senior citizens, including one in Thomastown, can significantly improve older people’s physical and mental health, according to a new study.
Research carried out by the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) has found that the exercise parks, which are also located in Thomastown and St Helena, help seniors to sustain these health improvements in the long-term.
As part of the study, 80 people aged 60 years and older underwent a three-month structured, supervised physical activity program using the Seniors Exercise Park equipment, which has been designed for older people.
This was followed up with six months unstructured, independent use of the exercise parks.
Participants were assessed when they started out, at three months and nine months and were evaluated for physical activity, physical function and health-related quality of life measures.
At three months, many participants recorded significant increases in physical activity levels, physical function, self-rated quality of life, and wellbeing.
They also had a reduced fear of falls, less depressive symptoms and felt less lonely.
NARI Professor Pazit Levinger said participants in the ENJOY Seniors Exercise increased their physical activity levels “from sedentary to being sufficiently active to gain health benefits”.
“The excellent physical gain benefits we saw at three months were sustained at the nine-month mark,” Professor Levinger said.
“People continued to use the exercise park without a supervised program.
“Not only were they motivated, they enjoyed the equipment and the socialising opportunities.
“This sustained engagement provides promising results for the potential benefits of scaling up the ENJOY program to reach a greater number of older people.”
Professor Levinger said there was “very little public outdoor exercise equipment suitable for older people” in Australia.
“But our research shows when you create accessible outdoor environments that encourage and provide opportunities for older people to engage in physical activity and social interaction, they will participate. And this is critical for healthy ageing,” the professor said.
The ENJOY program was led by NARI in collaboration with Whittlesea council, Wyndham council and the Old Colonists’ Association of Victoria, with funding support from Gandel Philanthropy.
