Group-based exercise programs for older adults in Manitoba
Date
2020-02
Authors
Lee, Mikyung
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Abstract
Group-based exercise programs have been shown to be one means of not only increasing activity levels for older adults but sustaining physical activity. However, research has shown that only a small proportion of older Manitobans participate in exercise classes. The purposes of this study were to determine: 1) what group-based exercise programs exist in Manitoba for older adults (55 years and older), 2) where these programs are delivered, 3) how these programs are designed, 4) who are the instructors of these programs and 5) what elements are included that may encourage older adults to attend and adhere to them. This study was completed using a cross-sectional design and an online survey of instructors who deliver group-based exercise programs to older adults in Manitoba. One hundred twelve instructors who completely filled out the survey, and 158 programs were included in the data analysis. The majority of instructors were relatively older (≥50 years, 69.7%), female (86.6%), employed (85.4%), had exercise-related certifications (86.6%) and over 5 years of experience in delivering exercise programs (54.5%). The majority of programs required a fee for participation (77.8%) and were mixed-gender (84.2%). All of the single-gender programs were female-only programs. The majority of programs had opportunities for social interaction (70.9%). More than half of the programs were performed in Winnipeg (66.9%) and no programs were reported in Northern Manitoba. Regarding rural-urban disparity, there were 19 programs (13.7%) in rural areas and 86.3% were in urban areas. In conclusion, most instructors were considered to be knowledgeable and experienced in leading exercise programs, which are key assets to encourage older adults to attend and adhere to exercise programs. Having a small number of free programs, no male-only programs, and regional disparity could contribute to a lower participation rate in exercise programs in Manitoba.
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Keywords
Older adults, Group-based exercise programs