Investigating physical activity benefits in the aged care sector

Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) has awarded Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine a tender to complete research on its national ‘Exercise Right for Active Ageing’ project for older adults.

The research project will build on the evidence base for face-to-face and video Telehealth exercise classes provided by ESSA’s Accredited Exercise Scientist and Accredited Exercise Physiologist members.

“This research will help fill some of the missing gaps we have on how a structured 12-week community exercise program can benefit inactive older Australians. We also anticipate the results from the large sample size of 14,000 older inactive Australians will help develop better health policies and inform health decision-makers on the benefits of community exercise classes for older adults,” says Anita Hobson-Powell, ESSA Chief Executive Officer.

“We know exercise physiology services are under-utilised in the aged care sector despite evidence that exercise reduces the personal burden of chronic disease for older Australians, reduces national spending on chronic conditions and supports healthy ageing strategies.”

“All older Australians can benefit from good access to exercise and the evidence for this research will help us enhance that access.”

Monash University’s Deputy Head of Pre-Hospital, Emergency and Trauma Research and lead researcher, Dr Christina Ekegren also noted that, ”This research project is important in determining which types of exercise and modes of delivery are most effective for older adults, and which they are most likely to stick to.”

“We hope to see that, despite some of the barriers that older adults face in engaging with exercise programs, there is still significant potential for improvements in strength, mobility and physical activity participation.”

“So far, few studies of this scale have been completed so this research will help cement what we know about the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of exercise for older adults.”

“We’re excited to be working with ESSA to analyse real world data and help strengthen the relationship between Monash University and the exercise and sports science community.”