Conference Agenda
Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).
|
Daily Overview |
| Session | |
|
GR1_1_2: Symposium: From Bench to App: Integrating Evidence-Based Physical Activity Interventions for Older Adults into Policy, Community, and Healthcare Location: Glass room 1 Session Chair: Tjaša Knific | |
    | |
From Bench to App: Integrating Evidence-Based Physical Activity Interventions for Older Adults into Policy, Community, and Healthcare Background and Aim of the Symposium Summary of Contributions
Added Value Key Messages
Presentations of the Symposium Recommendations to promote physical activity in older adults in Finland: Results from the first evaluation of the “Older People on the Move” program implementation Background Methods OPMP analysed all programme activities 2020–2024, reviewing 14 national and 100 local projects. Key data sources included the projects’ final reports, supplemented by statistics from national organisations and databases, and survey data from professionals and project implementers. Older adults’ experiences were incorporated from previous studies. Quantitative analyses covered statistical, registry and monitoring data, qualitative analyses examined project measures, impacts, successes, challenges and sustainability. Findings were disseminated through open-access materials, learning networks and integration into municipal and regional planning and services. Results Structures, competencies and collaboration supporting PA promotion strengthened during the programme period. Opportunities for strength and balance training, low-threshold group activities, and everyday movement increased. Several practices became embedded in municipal routines. Key barriers included limited resources, accessibility challenges and difficulties in reaching the least active, while OPMP’s national coordination, networks and practical tools acted as enablers. Based on these findings, recommendations were developed to guide strategic planning, decision-making and the strengthening of service structures at national and local levels. Conclusions Sustained national coordination combined with local implementation can integrate PA promotion into older adults’ services and daily environments. The recommendations offer a practical roadmap for municipalities, wellbeing services counties and organisations to embed these insights into permanent structures and policy. Development of a framework to match physical activities for older adults with residents in the neighbourhood Background Municipalities are responsible for providing activities for all seniors. Currently, activities often don't align with the composition of the neighborhood. The 65+ age group is often considered a single group. Exercise programs don't meet the needs of some members. Many activities are labeled as suitable for those aged 65+, even though we know that the diversity in vitality is large and isn't based solely on age. Methods Based on classification used by healthcare professionals, we defined four different target groups: vital, slightly frail, frail, and frail with multi-domain problems. We determined which elements should be described in the context of appropriate services and presented this to an external advisory group. During meetings, we also had policymakers and practitioners indicate which activities they offer to which target groups. Results The external advisory group advised to adjust the classification and combine with the Clinical Frailty Score. We define optimal exercise programs for the various groups based on, among other things, intensity, and the characteristics to be trained. Sessions with practitioners and policymakers revealed that the programs offered to various target groups, most often frail individuals, lag behind those offered to other groups. Several municipalities have begun applying this approach and developed programs for underrepresented groups. Conclusions The classification gives an opportunity to balance physical activity programs with the composition of the neighborhood. This is necessary because municipalities are responsible for offering exercise programs for all seniors. In practice, this approach has proven to be well-received by both practitioners and policymakers. Who is using the outdoor IPitup® Activity Bench and how? Background Outdoor fitness equipment in public parks may promote physical activity at the community level. However, evidence on user characteristics and usage patterns remains limited. This study aimed to describe who uses the IPitup® Activity Bench and how it is used across multiple publicly accessible locations in Leuven, a medium-sized city in central Belgium. The IPitup® Activity Bench comprises six integrated fitness elements, enabling more than 250 bodyweight exercises. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at 12 IPitup® Activity Bench locations in Leuven (Flanders, Belgium) between March and May 2025. Each site was observed on two days (one weekday and one weekend day) across four-time blocks: morning (07:00–09:00), midday (12:00–14:00), afternoon (16:00–18:00), and evening (19:00–21:30). Direct observations were performed using a modified System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) to record user characteristics (sex, age group) and interactions with the equipment. Results Across 204 observation hours, 7,865 individuals were observed passing through the target areas; 2.9% (n = 227) used the IPitup® Activity Bench. Users were predominantly male (62%) compared with female (38%). Most users were young-to-middle-aged adults (46.3%), followed by children (38.3%), adolescents (10.6%), and older adults (4.8%). Conclusions Outdoor fitness equipment such as the IPitup® Activity Bench may contribute to community-based physical activity. Understanding characteristics of users and non-users can inform targeted promotion strategies and interventions to increase uptake, particularly among older adults. Effectiveness of the ABC+ Exercise Program for Older Adults: Pilot Results from Four EU Countries Background Regular multifaceted physical activity is effective in reducing falls and fall‑related injuries among older adults. The ABC+ Exercise Program is a multicomponent program aimed at preventing falls and frailty in community‑dwelling older adults. It was piloted in Finland, France, Slovenia, and Italy to assess its feasibility, acceptability, and effects on balance, fear of falling (FoF), functional ability, and quality of life. Methods Altogether, 245 older adults (80.4% women; x̅=73.3 [63–94] years) participated. Recruitment strategies differed locally but focused on physically inactive older adults at increased fall risk. Pre‑ and post‑measures included self‑reported fall risk (KaatumisSeula®), balance confidence (including the ABC Scale), FoF, and health‑related quality of life (EQ‑5D‑5L). The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was conducted by trained instructors. Participants trained twice weekly for 3 months. Follow‑up data were available from Finland, France, and Slovenia. Results The program reached its target population: at baseline, 35% had increased fall risk and 41% had fallen at least once in the previous 12-month-period. Poor balance decreased (12% to 4%) indoors and (22% to 14%) outdoors. FoF declined indoors (12% to 6%) and outdoors (35% to 28%). Quality of life improved: moderate‑to‑extreme pain decreased (52% to 45%) and the proportion without anxiety or depression increased (53% to 60%). Participant feedback indicated high acceptability. No adverse events occurred, and discomforts were mild and related to pre‑existing conditions. Conclusions Findings suggest the exercise program is feasible, safe, and well‑received across European settings with potential for wider implementation. Funding: Funded in 2024–2025 by Erasmus+sport funding. Integrating the vAdBeCeDa App into Slovenian Primary Healthcare to Support Older Adults’ Physical Activity Background Methods Results Conclusions Funding: Funded by NextGenerationEU. | |
