Physical Activities at Distance: Feasibility and Acceptability of Online Remote Exercise Intervention in Older Adults

Klonova Alina (), Brustio Paolo Riccardo, Grants Juris, Rudi Doriana, Chiari Carlotta and Schena Federico
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Klonova Alina: University of Verona, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement, Italy
Brustio Paolo Riccardo: University of Verona, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement, Italy
Grants Juris: Latvian Academy of Sport Education, Riga, Latvia
Rudi Doriana: University of Verona, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement, Italy
Chiari Carlotta: University of Verona, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement, Italy
Schena Federico: University of Verona, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement, Italy

Polish Journal of Sport and Tourism, 2022, vol. 29, issue 3, 23-28

Abstract: Introduction. During the COVID-19 pandemic, comprehensive social distancing policies, such as prohibiting agglomerations, travel restrictions, and staying-at-home recommendations, were adopted by several countries. Due to these lockdown measures, older adults decreased daily physical activity levels, consequently increasing sedentary behavior. This pilot feasibility study aimed to explore the feasibility of implementation (i.e., adherence, safety) and acceptability (i.e., satisfaction, intent to continue use, perceived appropriateness) of an online face-to-face supervised exercise intervention in a sample of older adults. Material and Methods. Seven older adults (mean age: 68 ± 5 years; 38% females) completed the study. The exercise program was composed of two 45-min sessions per week for five consecutive weeks. Participants followed a remote exercise program in Zoom©. After each training session, both participants and the fitness trainer completed a questionnaire designed to investigate the acceptability and feasibility of the exercise program. Results. Six out of seven participants (i.e., 86%) attended 100% of the workouts. No experience of fall/injury occurred during the training. All the participants agreed or strongly agreed to have the competence to perform the proposed exercise (range 100-42.9%), and this perception increased at the end of the intervention. Conclusions. Our results suggest that an online physical exercise program using web technology seems to be feasible and acceptable to independent older adults. The program does not require specific equipment, shows a high adherence level, and seems safe. Moreover, both the participants and the fitness trainer reported a high level of satisfaction with the activity.

Keywords: home-based; exercise; elderly; COVID-19; lockdown; social isolation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vrs:spotou:v:29:y:2022:i:3:p:23-28:n:2

DOI: 10.2478/pjst-2022-0017

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