Conference Agenda

Background: Despite the wealth of evidence demonstrating the health benefits of physical activity (PA), people with arthritis commonly do not meet recommended PA levels. Whilst various programmes support people with arthritis to become active, most individuals reduce their PA levels after completion of a structured exercise programme. This pre-post feasibility study evaluated a newly co-developed PA maintenance intervention (MAintAin) for people living with arthritis, after completion of a physiotherapy-led structured exercise programme.

Methods: MAintAin, a 16 week predominantly group-based PA coaching intervention comprised of PA monitoring, goal-setting, planning and education by a trained provider in a community setting. It was conducted in three waves of cohorts in Ireland. Twenty-seven participants (81% female, 93% aged >55 years, 93% diagnosis of osteoarthrits, 100% white) were recruited. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, retention, and satisfaction. Process measures included PA Behavioural Automaticity and Action Coping Planning questionnaires.

Results: The study met 90% target recruitment, and 89% of participants provided follow-up data. Eighty-eight percent of participants reported being either satisfied or very satisfied with the intervention. Preliminary analyses suggested PA planning scores increased from 25.26 to 31.42/44 (mean increase of 6.16 points, 14%). Behavioural Automaticity scores decreased from 10.19 to 8.33/20 (mean reduction of 1.86 points, 9%).

Conclusions: Findings demonstrate the MAintAin intervention is feasible, acceptable, and capable of supporting increases in PA planning and automaticity among people with arthritis. High recruitment, retention, and satisfaction rates indicate strong suitability for further evaluation. These results will inform intervention optimisation and the design of a future randomised trial.

Population aging represents major demographic challenge, increasing the need for accessible and effective strategies that promote physical-activity (PA) among older adults. Public parks represent an increasingly recognized setting for promoting active aging because they provide free, accessible, and socially supportive environments for PA.
The project “Open Spaces and Closed Years: Transformational Potentials of Natural Environments and Combined Physical Activity in Older Women” aims to develop and evaluate a multicomponent exercise program implemented in public parks for women aged 60 years and older. The program includes aerobic, strength, balance, and flexibility exercises and is designed as a non-formal and free activity. Participants are randomized into experimental and control groups, with functional and health-related outcomes assessed before and after each intervention cycle during a four-year study period (2025–2028).
Park-based exercise programs offer several benefits. Outdoor environments may enhance motivation and adherence to PA, support mental well-being through exposure to natural surroundings, and encourage social interaction. Importantly, public parks reduce common barriers to participation such as cost and limited access to facilities.
However, certain risks should be considered. Environmental conditions (e.g., uneven terrain, weather variability) and inadequate infrastructure may increase the risk of falls or injuries. These risks can be minimized through appropriate exercise selection, supervision, and safe park design.
Public parks represent a promising and scalable setting for promoting PA and supporting healthy aging among older populations. The findings from the project may contribute to developing guidelines for future community-based exercise interventions.

Aim: To explore bidirectional prospective associations between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and multiple adiposity indicators from middle to old age, and to assess sex differences in these associations.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Finnish Oulu45 cohort study (N=682, 56% female). Information about self-reported frequency of LTPA of ≥30min and laboratory-measured adiposity indicators—body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)—were collected at approximately ages 57 and 70. Multi-group cross-lagged panel models were used to assess sex-specific associations between LTPA and adiposity indicators, adjusted for socio-demographic and lifestyle confounders.

Results: In men, weak negative cross-sectional associations were found between LTPA and all adiposity indicators at both timepoints (r= −0.12 to −0.28, p≤0.039). In women, only LTPA and WHR at age 70 were significantly associated (r=−0.120, p=0.031). No cross‑lagged effects were observed from LTPA at 57 to adiposity at 70. In contrast, higher values in all adiposity indicators at 57 predicted lower LTPA at 70 in men (standardized coefficients: BMI: -0.123, WC: -0.145, WHtR: -0.160, WHR: -0.145; p≤0.035) and women (BMI: -0.289, WC: -0.321, WHtR: -0.319, WHR: -0.274; p<0.001). Sex did not moderate these associations (p≥0.2).

Conclusions: Across the transition from middle to old age, adiposity predicts subsequent leisure-time physical activity frequency but not vice versa, regardless of indicator. Supporting physical activity engagement among middle‑aged adults with elevated adiposity may help reduce functional decline later in life.

Funding: Research Council of Finland (Profi6/336449), Juho Vainio Foundation, Ministry of Education and Culture (OKM/19626/2024)

Purpose: More frequent and intense heat waves resulting from the climate crisis require endurance runners to adopt effective heat‑adaptation strategies, especially in urban environments affected by heat‑island effects. This study aimed to compare heat adaptation strategies among endurance runners training in urban versus rural environments.

Methods: An online questionnaire using 5-point Likert scales to assess the use and feasibility of heat adaptation strategies was completed by 303 endurance runners of varying training levels (45% male, 38.2 ± 11.3 years). Mann–Whitney U tests compared responses between runners reporting to primarily train in urban (n=60) versus rural (n=239) environments.

Results: Both groups reported similar availability of shade along their regular running routes (p = 0.57), and no significant differences were found in their use of strategies such as training at cooler times, selecting alternative routes, seeking extra shade, lowering pace, or reducing distance (p from 0.16 to 0.97). However, urban runners rated finding another route (p = 0.012) and more shade (p = 0.009) as less feasible. Runners from both environments equally expect an increased exposure to hot days (p = 0.67) but reported relatively low concern (p = 0.66) about managing heat during exercise.

Conclusion: Urban and rural runners report similar use of heat‑adaptation strategies, although urban runners perceive adjusting their route or seeking more shade as less feasible. Therefore, policy makers should focus on creating more natural shaded areas, particularly in cities. Despite anticipating more frequent hot‑weather exposure, runners express limited concern about coping with heat during training.

Background

The programme »1000 Movements« is implemented by the NGO Šola zdravja, coordinating more than 260 exercise groups and over 5,000 participants across Slovenia. It promotes physical and mental health through daily outdoor group exercise, while reducing loneliness and strengthening social inclusion among older adults. The core activity is a 30-minute structured morning exercise in public spaces. The main target group are adults aged 55+, especially retirees. The programme’s innovation lies in its simplicity, nationwide reach, volunteer-led structure, and strong social dimension.

Methods

The programme was introduced by Dr. Nikolay Grishin and expanded through collaboration with municipalitiesand trained volunteer leaders. Many participants have been attending programme for several years. Implementation takes place in public spaces five times per week. Complementary activities include strength exercises.

Evaluation was conducted through a 2026 survey of 779 participants across Slovenia , assessing health outcomes, satisfaction, and perceived loneliness. Dissemination occurs via local networks, media, and community partnerships, enabling nationwide spread.

Results

Participants report improved mobility, perceived energy, reduced pain, and overall wellbeing . A significant proportion feel less lonely since joining . Many describe the group as their main daily social contact . High satisfaction with group atmosphere and leadership was observed.

Conclusions

“1000 Movements” demonstrates that structured daily exercise combined with social connection can reduce loneliness, increase social inclusion, and create measurable community impact. It represents a scalable, low-cost model for health-enhancing physical activity policy and practice. The programme contributes to the prevention of non-communicable diseases and supports healthy ageing strategies.

Aim

Menopause is a key stage in women’s ageing during which engagement in physical activity (PA) is particularly important^{1, 2}. This study examined PA levels among postmenopausal women in Ireland and their knowledge, attitudes, healthcare professional advice, barriers, motivators to PA^3,4, and experience of menopausal symptoms.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 630 postmenopausal women in Ireland. PA levels were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form and menopause symptoms using the Menopause Rating Scale. A researcher developed questionnaire assessed knowledge of PA guidelines, healthcare professional advice and barriers and motivators for PA. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS and open-ended responses using content analysis.

Results

Participants reported mean PA levels of 2647.7 ± 660 min/week with 41.7% highly active, 39.5% moderately active, and 18.7% with low PA levels.

Attitudes toward PA were positive (97.7% rated it very or extremely important), although knowledge was limited with 27% and 29.5% correctly identifing aerobic and strength guidelines respectively. Health-related limitations and time constraints were the most common barriers to PA, while external support and health benefits were key motivators. Only 24.9% reported receiving PA advice from healthcare professionals.

Menopause symptom severity differed significantly across PA levels, with higher symptoms reported among women with low PA (p = 0.012).

Conclusions

Despite positive attitudes, postmenopausal women reported limited knowledge of PA guidelines and low exposure to professional advice. Lower PA levels were associated with higher menopause symptom severity, highlighting the need for greater PA promotion in this population.