The new year 2023 has started with great visibility for active ageing. In early January American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), published of list of Fitness trends around the world, and identified top trends for seven regions, Australia being one of them (Kercher et al 2023) . The data is based on surveys distributed to health and fitness professionals, with the aim of defining the top most popular fitness trends of each region.
For Australia the top trend for 2023 is “Fitness Programs for Older Adults”, a topic that in 2022 reached the third position. This year also Brazil, Europe and USA also had the topic in the top five of the trends.
The leader of the investigation in Australia, Chris Alexander, stated that Australian Industry professionals recognise the need for fitness services to support the health and welfare of older Australians as the average age of the population increases.
Also in January, ACSM published a paper on the health benefits of resistance exercise (Sawan et al. 2023). In this paper the authors discuss the role of strength training for mobility and falls, cognitive function, cancer, metabolic health and mortality. The authors suggest that due to the beneficial effects for physical and cognitive function, along other benefits, strength training should be presented in the physical activity guidelines together with aerobic training. The authors also state that prevention of disability, reduction of falls and improving cognitive ability are likely to be high motivators for resistance training.
One image on this article nicely visualises the effect of exercise on physical and cognitive health, linking sedentary lifestyle. recreational activity and prescribed resistance exercise to the disability and dependence threshold.
Effects of (in)activity and resistance training on physical and cognitive function across the lifespan. Exercise, Sport, and Movement, January 2023,1(1)
This publication also identifies hinders to participation in strength training activities, such as injury risk or limited gym facility access. These two issues can be minimised with appropriate selection of equipment allowing for safe resistance exercise to all. Key points for the design of HUR equipment are safety and accessibility for everyone. As the resistance is provided by air, it gives a close to zero starting load and 100g increment progression of resistance, making HUR a world leader in equipment selection for older adults.
Providers from community care and retirement villages, as well as residential aged care, now understand the value of exercise as medicine, with improved health and wellness leading to longevity, independence, and better quality of life. Facilities are fitted with appropriate equipment, and supported by qualified allied health staff, allowing for safe, yet progressive training for all.
For years we have been sharing success stories from our clients, you can read these in our Newsletter archive, https://www.huraustralia.com.au/HUR-News, or from our testimonials site, https://www.huraustralia.com.au/testimonials.
In 2021 the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Ageing, published a literature review titled “International Exercise Recommendations in Older Adults (ICFSR): Expert Consensus Guidelines“ (Izquierdo et al. 2021). In this open access article, and panel of experts review the ageing process, and the ways we can affect our ageing processes by our experiences and behaviours, especially the levels of physical activity and exercise. Based on the research findings, the authors then summarised the impact of exercise and also provided recommendations on exercise modalities.
This wonderful open access gives detailed guidelines to appropriate and suggested exercise modalities to everyone, to optimise exercise on slowing down physiological signs of ageing, as well as preventing and treating disease.
The authors’ message is clear, Exercise is medicine when prescribed right and controlled for the individual, just like any other medical treatment The evidence is clear on the health benefits to everyone, indeed, the final phrase of the article should be a guideline to everyone in the industry:
“Considering the accumulated evidence of the benefits of exercise in frail older adults over many decades, it is not justifiable to not prescribe physical exercise to these individuals, and one of the main challenges for the future is to integrate exercise programmes as a mandatory part of the care of pre-frail/frail older patients in all hospital, outpatient, and aged care settings”.
Best wishes, on behalf of HUR Australia,
Dr Tuire Karaharju-Huisman
Physiotherapist, Accredited Exercise Physiologist (ESSAM), PhD (Biomechanics)
Research Lead, Area Account Manager (Vic, Tas, SA)
References:
The Health Benefits of Resistance Exercise: Beyond Hypertrophy and Big Weights
Click here to read the article.
Abou Sawan, Sidney; Nunes, Everson A.; Lim, Changhyun; McKendry, James; Phillips, Stuart M.. The Health Benefits of Resistance Exercise: Beyond Hypertrophy and Big Weights. Exercise, Sport, and Movement 1(1):e00001, January 2023. | DOI: 10.1249/ESM.0000000000000001
International Exercise Recommendations in Older Adults (ICFSR): Expert Consensus Guidelines
Click here to read the article.
Izquierdo M, Merchant RA, Morley JE, Anker SD, Aprahamian I, Arai H, Aubertin-Leheudre M, Bernabei R, Cadore EL, Cesari M, Chen LK, de Souto Barreto P, Duque G, Ferrucci L, Fielding RA, García-Hermoso A, Gutiérrez-Robledo LM, Harridge SDR, Kirk B, Kritchevsky S, Landi F, Lazarus N, Martin FC, Marzetti E, Pahor M, Ramírez-Vélez R, Rodriguez-Mañas L, Rolland Y, Ruiz JG, Theou O, Villareal DT, Waters DL, Won Won C, Woo J, Vellas B, Fiatarone Singh M. International Exercise Recommendations in Older Adults (ICFSR): Expert Consensus Guidelines. J Nutr Health Aging. 2021;25(7):824-853. doi: 10.1007/s12603-021-1665-8. PMID: 34409961.
2023 Fitness Trends from Around the Globe
Click here to read the article.
Kercher, Vanessa M. (Martinez) Ph.D., M.Ed., FACSM, ACSM-EP, CHWC; Kercher, Kyle Ph.D., ACSM-EP, CPT, CSCS, PMP, CHWC; Levy, Paul MPH; Bennion, Trevor DHSc; Alexander, Chris ESSAM, AEP, AES; Amaral, Paulo Costa Ph.D., MBA, M.Sc.; Batrakoulis, Alexios Ph.D., M.S., ACSM-EP, ACSM-CPT, ACSM-EIM; Chávez, Lino Francisco Jacobo Gómez Ph.D.; Cortés-Almanzar, Paola Ph.D.; Haro, Jorge López B.Sc., M.Sc.; Zavalza, Adrián Ricardo Pelayo M.S.; Rodríguez, Luis Eduardo Aguirre B.Sc.; Franco, Susana Ph.D.; Santos-Rocha, Rita Ph.D.; Ramalho, Fátima Ph.D.; Simões, Vera Ph.D.; Vieira, Isabel M.Sc.; Ramos, Liliana Ph.D.; Veiga, Oscar L. Ph.D., M.Sc.; Valcarce-Torrente, Manel Ph.D., M.Sc.; Romero-Caballero, Alejandro Ph.D. M.Sc. 2023 Fitness Trends from Around the Globe. ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal 27(1):p 19-30, 1/2 2023. | DOI: 10.1249/FIT.0000000000000836
