Report
Outdoor physical activity for older people—the senior exercise park: Current research, challenges and future directions
P Levinger, M Sales, R Polman, T Haines, B Dow, SJH Biddle, G Duque, KD Hill
Health Promotion Journal of Australia | WILEY | Published : 2018
DOI: 10.1002/hpja.60
Abstract
Issue addressed: Exercising outdoors provide beneficial effect on mental and physical health for all ages. However, few older people exercise outdoors other than walking. While outdoor gyms have become increasingly common in Australia, limited outdoor exercise equipment specifically designed for older people is available in public spaces. We have set up and evaluated a unique purpose-built outdoor exercise park for older people in the community setting and demonstrated positive physical and wellbeing outcomes associated with the provision of this unique exercise mode and social program. Methods: This study is a reflective narrative describing this innovative exercise approach and reports cha..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The research trial was supported by Gandel Philanthropy. We would like to acknowledge Mrs Brenda Suva from St. Bernadette's Community Respite House-Villa Maria Catholic Homes for help with the logistics of this project at the site, John McAulay from Villa Maria Catholic Homes for his advice and support with regards to the site landscape and security of the exercise park area, and Harri Makela from Lappset Australia for the advice and installation and maintenance of the exercise park equipment. Finally, we would like to thank Villa Maria Catholic Homes for providing the infrastructure and land for the equipment installation and Lappset Australia for providing in-kind the exercise park equipment for this project.