Correlates and preferences of resistance training among older adults in Alberta, Canada

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of resistance training among older adults in Alberta, Canada, has never been measured. Hence, there is no clear understanding of the demographic and health-related factors associated with resistance training, or older adults' resistance training programming preferences. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of resistance training behaviours among older adults in Alberta. METHODS:Older adults (>55 years) from across Alberta were invited to participate in this study. Participants completed self-reported measures of resistance training behaviours, demographics, health-related information, and resistance training program interest and preferences.RESULTS: A total of 358 (of 393) participants returned a completed survey, for a response rate of 91.1%. Overall, 53.1% met Canadian resistance training guidelines. On average, participants engaged in resistance training on 1.8 (SD = 1.9) days per week for an average of 1.6 hours (SD = 1.3). Preferences included resistance training in a fitness club (45.7%) and morning training times (51.7%). Indicating an ability to participate in a resistance training program for older adults was associated with being age 65 years or older (OR = 2.4; 95% CI, 0.69 to 8.0, p = 0.017) and being male (OR = 2.2; 95% CI, 0.73 to 6.69, p = 0.016). Those meeting resistance training guidelines were significantly less likely to have a chronic disease (OR = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.95, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION:Older adults had unique preferences for receiving resistance training counseling and programming. These preferences were associated with specific demographic and health-related variables. For example, resistance training can help prevent physical decline by maintaining muscle strength, muscle power and endurance and helps to maintain a healthy body weight. 2Resistance training can also enhance many fitness parameters, such as balance, coordination, speed, agility and jumping ability. When resistance training is part of a comprehensive activity program, the benefits can include improved cardiac function, functional capacity, and reduced risk factors for diabetes, osteoporosis and even colon cancer. 1To date, resistance training prevalence for Canadian older adults is largely unknown. Few studies have examined correlates of resistance training among older adults. These studies have consistently reported level of education to be significantly associated with resistance training among older adults.3-5 Other correlates identified in these studies included body mass index/ obesity (higher body mass index associated with less resistance training) 3,5 and gender (women less likely to engage in resistance training). 3 To date, no studies have examined correlates of resistance training among older adults in Canada. Further, no studies have elicited older adults' preferences for resistance training counseling and programming. Such information may enable targeted health promotion strategies aimed at facilitating resistance training activities among olde...

Meeting the Canadian strength training recommendations: Implications for the cardiometabolic, psychological and musculoskeletal health of nurses

“…Our finding of 9.4% of nurses meeting the strength training recommendation is considerably smaller than a previous Canadian study reporting that 53.1% of older adults (>55 years old) met the strength training recommendation (Bampton et al., 2016). However, as described in their study, the unexpectedly high proportion of older adults meeting the strength training recommendation may have been due to response bias, whereby interested adults were over‐represented in the sample.…”

Better Together? A Pilot Study of Romantic Partner Influence on Exercise Adherence and Cardiometabolic Risk in African-American Couples

“…Though the studies available showed beneficial results (i.e., improvements in PA and health measures) and several were culturally tailored to AAs, there is still a need for interventions to utilize tailoring that is appropriate for the intersection of race and male gender. Even though the current study was guided in-part by a conceptual framework developed for older AA women, facilitating the reciprocal coach-type interaction with partners (partners encouraging each other to exercise and supporting each other during exercise) and choosing RT as a key exercise modality were designed to help attract men and retain them in the intervention [41]. The current study did not measure the reasons why participants were interested in participating; however, this is an aspect of mixed-gender dyadic research that should be explored in the future.…”

A Typology of Factors Influencing Seniors’ Participation in Strength Training in Gyms and Fitness Centers

“…Many of the factors listed in Table 2 have been identified in previous research as being relevant to seniors' participation in physical activity more broadly. In particular, the importance of social interaction as a motivator for older people is well recognized (Andreasson et al, 2016;Bampton, Johnson, & Vallance, 2016;Barrett & Smerdely, 2003;Farrance, Tsofliou, & Clark, 2016;Henwood et al, 2011;Lübcke et al, 2012;Rydeskog et al, 2005). Similarly, the relevance of instructor quality (Bethancourt et al, 2014;Burton et al, 2017;Farrance et al, 2016;Lübcke et al, 2012), cost (Barrett & Smerdely, 2003), accessibility (Bethancourt et al, 2014;Lübcke et al, 2012), time constraints (Lübcke et al, 2012;Van Roie, Bautmans, Coudyzer, Boen, & Delecluse, 2015), and the nature of other patrons (Rydeskog et al, 2005) has been noted.…”