Active Aging

OCTOBER 5-11, 2020 | Active Aging Week 11 Join us for our upcoming Arthritis Talks! Free live presentations with Q&A September 30: Real Talk on Research ▼ Dr. Hance Clarke and Dr. Paul Fortin October: Managing Inflammatory Arthritis November: Complementary Therapies January 2021: Tools for Joint Management February 2021: Seniors and Medical Cannabis Register at arthritis.ca/arthritistalks or call toll-free 1-800-321-1433 for more information. MOBILITY PRODUCTS CUSTOMIZED TO YOUR NEEDS LIFT CHAIRS, WALKERS, STAIRLIFTS AND MORE! > homequip.ca 385-550 Century St. (204) 949-2300 Do what you love! Inspire others and get paid for it. Many Fitness Leader certification options Call us today @204-235-1245 or visit www.manitobafitnesscouncil.ca W hen the pandemic began to pulse through the world, life changed in a heartbeat — including the way many people choose to stay active. The Centre on Aging at the University of Manitoba embarked on a survey this summer geared toward participants aged 65 and older to learn more about their experiences with virtual exercise classes during this period. Approximately 700 people responded to the survey, which was mainly distributed by organizations that work with older adults, including those that concentrate on exercise and physical activity. "We focused more on people who were thinking about making the transition to doing online exercise rather than people just starting to be physically active," says Dr. Michelle Porter, director of the Centre on Aging. "On average, we had a very active group who responded to the survey, with almost half reporting participating in non-exercise class physical activity four or more times per week prior to the pandemic, and 40 per cent of participants also reported participating in exercise classes three times per week or more, again prior to the pandemic." When in-person programs paused during the lockdown period, online activities began to flourish. The Centre on Aging study aimed to examine the uptake on these online offerings by older adults as well as their reactions to this new experience. "We knew there was going to be an impact on older people in particular because they were a higher risk group for potential outcomes from the virus. They were being told to physically isolate themselves and stay at home," says Porter, who is also a professor in the faculty of kinesiology and recreation management. "Physical activity is very beneficial for people, so it's important for older people to continue to be physically active." Overall, a majority of respondents said they hadn't tried online exercise classes. "Some said they would potentially consider it for the future if the weather was bad or if there was another lockdown," Porter says. For those who did try virtual exercise (about 40 per cent of the sample), 22 per cent of participants did online exercise four or more times per week and 29 per cent did it twice a week. "I think this opens up possibilities for people to get more consistent physical activity," she says, "maybe as a combination of going to classes and doing classes at home." Other hindrances to participation in online exercise classes included not having enough space or feeling restricted due to the type of device used for viewing. "If they have a phone or an iPad, the screen size is pretty small for being able to see what's happening," Porter says. "That could be an issue, so it might be something for instructors to be aware of." For those that did make the switch to virtual workouts, many approved of the intensity of the classes since instructors adapted their approach for a variety of abilities. YouTube was the most common platform for online exercise classes, and the majority of participants tuned in to programs offered within their local community. A smaller set of participants tried classes from other parts of Manitoba, other parts of Canada and even other countries. "For the people that were participating in the online exercise classes, they really liked not having to spend the time or arrangements for transportation," Porter says. "It was also interesting that people said it doesn't matter what they wear. A proportion of people also said that they like exercising without people seeing them." Most participants sought out classes that combined aerobic strength, flexibility and balance, while others participated in more specialized programs such as yoga, Pilates or tai chi. Another noteworthy finding is that safety didn't seem to be a big concern for most people. Thinking beyond the pandemic, Porter feels that online exercise classes offer options for future programming. "There are lots of older people who are not physically active enough to get health benefits," she says. "It would be good for organizations and governments to think about how to reach older people in other ways than would have been done traditionally in the past." Programs of the future could combine live offerings with recorded options, she adds. "Online programs might not become a mainstay where they replace in-person classes, but I think there is lots of potential to supplement," Porter says. "For those that aren't able to get out, it could even become their main source of physical activity." ■ Embarking on online exercise BY JENNIFER MCFEE Dr. Michelle Porter is the director of the Centre on Aging. A study by the Centre on Aging examined older adults' experience with online exercise classes during the pandemic.

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