A Web-Delivered, Clinician-Led Group Exercise Intervention for Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: Single-Arm Pre-Post Intervention

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented shifts in the way health programs and services are delivered. A national lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Australia was introduced in March 2020. This lockdown included the closure of exercise clinics, fitness centers, and other community spaces, which, before the pandemic, were used to deliver Beat It. Beat It is an 8-week in-person, community-based, and clinician-led group exercise and education program for adults self-managing diabetes. To continue offering Beat It, it was adapted from an in-person program to a fully web-based supervised group exercise program for adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Objective This study aims to assess whether the Beat It Online program produced comparable health outcomes to the Beat It in-person program in terms of improving physical fitness (muscular strength and power, aerobic endurance, balance, and flexibility) and waist circumference in older adults with T2DM. Methods Australians with T2DM who were aged ≥60 years were included. They were enrolled in Beat It Online, a twice-weekly supervised group exercise and education program conducted via videoconference over 8 weeks. Anthropometric measurements and physical fitness parameters were assessed at baseline and completion. The adaptations to Beat It are reported using the Model for Adaptation, Design, and Impact, including the type of changes (what, where, when, and for whom), the criteria for making those changes (why and how), and the intended and unintended outcomes. The intended outcomes were comparable functional fitness as well as physical and mental health improvements across demographics and socioeconomic status. Results A total of 171 adults (mean 71, SD 5.6 years; n=54, 31.6% male) with T2DM were included in the study, with 40.4% (n=69) residing in lower socioeconomic areas. On the completion of the 8-week program, significant improvements in waist circumference, aerobic capacity, muscular strength, flexibility, and balance were observed in both male and female participants (all P<.001). The Model for Adaptation, Design, and Impact reports on 9 clinical, practical, and technical aspects of Beat It that were adapted for web-based delivery. Conclusions This study found that Beat It Online was just as effective as the in-person program. This adapted program produced comparable health benefits across demographics and socioeconomic status. This study offers important findings for practitioners and policy makers seeking to maintain independence of older people with T2DM, reversing frailty and maximizing functional and physical fitness, while improving overall quality of life. Beat It Online offers a flexible and inclusive solution with significant physical and mental health benefits to individuals. Further evaluation of Beat It (both in-person and Online) adapted for culturally and linguistically diverse communities will provide greater insights into the efficacy of this promising program.

A systematic review of digital health technologies for the care of older adults during COVID-19 pandemic

“…Most (14, 70%) studies focused on older adults with chronic diseases or symptoms, and eight studies targeted older adults with mental health issues, including cognitive impairment or dementia, 43 – 47 memory concerns, 48 neurocognitive disorder, 49 and affective disorders. 50 Other chronic diseases or symptoms included pain, 51 type 2 diabetes, 42 , 52 Parkinsonism, 53 rheumatoid arthritis, 54 and obesity. 42 , 55 It is worth mentioning that two studies targeted both older adults and caregivers, 49 , 56 and one study also included grandparents and grandchildren.…”

“…DHTs encompassed various distinct applications, such as health care services delivered via television, 47 telephone, 51 , 58 , 59 video meeting, 46 , 48 , 49 , 60 social media, 45 , 61 mobile applications, 53 , 56 and website-based telehealth. 50 , 52 , 55 In addition to “traditional” DHTs, several new approaches were implemented in health care sectors. Adly AS et al evaluated a novel teletherapy approach (i.e.…”

“…DHT interventions also focused on sedentary behavior and physical activity among older adults. 52 , 53 , 55 During the COVID-19 pandemic, an in-person, community-based exercise program for adults with type 2 diabetes was transited to a web-based group program, and significant improvements were found in five physical fitness outcomes. 52 Kim A et al used International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to measure physical activity levels for older adults with Parkinsonism.…”

Effects of Endurance Exercise Intensities on Autonomic and Metabolic Controls in Children with Obesity: A Feasibility Study Employing Online Exercise Training

“…Moreover, other important barriers, such as lack of skills, motivation, enjoinment, and peer support, as well as feeling shy about physical activity in public [ 31 , 32 ], need to be accounted for in the case of obese children and adolescents. Home-based exercise intervention programs may help in overcoming some of these barriers [ 33 , 34 , 35 ]. As previously reported [ 36 ], remote physical activity programs may provide a valuable strategy for fostering compliance with physical activity guidelines, representing an opportunity for pediatric subjects with obesity to stay healthy.…”

“…As previously reported [ 36 ], remote physical activity programs may provide a valuable strategy for fostering compliance with physical activity guidelines, representing an opportunity for pediatric subjects with obesity to stay healthy. On the other hand, their effectiveness may vary [ 12 , 33 , 37 ] according to the level of support granted by exercise professionals and the level of personalization of the proposed program.…”