Encouraging Adults Aged 65 and over to Participate in Resistance Training by Linking Them with a Peer: A Pilot Study

Elissa Burton; Keith D Hill; Jim Codde; Angela Jacques; Yoke Leng Ng; Anne-Marie Hill

doi:10.3390/ijerph20043248

Encouraging Adults Aged 65 and over to Participate in Resistance Training by Linking Them with a Peer: A Pilot Study

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 13;20(4):3248. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043248.

Authors

Elissa Burton^{1

2}, Keith D Hill^{3

4}, Jim Codde⁵, Angela Jacques⁵, Yoke Leng Ng^{1

6}, Anne-Marie Hill⁷

Affiliations

¹ Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia.
² enAble Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.
³ Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Monash University, Frankston, VIC 3199, Australia.
⁴ National Centre for Healthy Ageing, Monash University and Peninsula Health, Frankston, VIC 3199, Australia.
⁵ Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame Australia, Perth, WA 6160, Australia.
⁶ Health and Social Sciences Cluster, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore 138683, Singapore.
⁷ School of Allied Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.

Abstract

Resistance training (RT) is beneficial for older adults, particularly to support living independently in their home. However, fewer than 25% of older adults in Australia participate in the recommended, twice-weekly sessions. Reasons older adults do not participate in RT include not having anyone to go with or not knowing what to do. Our study linked older adults with a peer (i.e., older person already participating in RT) to help them overcome these barriers. The aim of our study was to determine whether peer support was suitable for older adults participating in RT for the first time in the home or gymnasium setting. Each group (home vs. gymnasium) received a 6 week, twice-weekly program. Twenty-one participants completed the 6 week intervention: 14 in the home group and seven in the gymnasium group. The home group completed significantly more sessions per week (2.7 vs. 1.8) than the gymnasium group. Although both groups significantly improved on many physical assessments, no between-group differences were found. However, it is suitable to link a peer for support with novice older people participating in a RT program for the first time in the home or gymnasium. It is recommended that future studies explore whether peer support improves sustainability.

Keywords: adherence; exercise; peer support; strength training.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Australia
Exercise
Humans
Pilot Projects
Resistance Training*

Grants and funding

This research was funded by a University of Notre Dame Australia Research Incentive Grant. Associate Professor Elissa Burton is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant (grant number APP1174739). Professor Anne-Marie Hill is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant (grant number APP1174179).