Senior physical activity contests in nursing homes: a feasibility study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sports Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Competition enhances motivation and physical performance in younger populations.
• Limited research exists on the impact of competitive physical activity in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of inter-nursing home physical activity (PA) contests for seniors.
• To evaluate changes in motivation and physical performance among residents participating in these contests.

Main Methods:

• Seniors from two nursing homes participated in PA contests over three months.
• Activities included balance, gait speed, sit-to-stand, and arm curl tests.
• Feasibility was measured by adherence, difficulty, and satisfaction; motivation was assessed using BREQ-2 and A-PMCEQ questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Contest adherence was 86%, with a mean difficulty score of 30.8% and satisfaction of 87%.
• Significant improvements were observed in gait speed (p < 0.001), sit-to-stand performance (p < 0.001), and arm curl scores (p < 0.001).
• Amotivation and external motivation decreased significantly (p <= 0.03), alongside a reduction in ego-involving climate (p = 0.02).

Conclusions:

• Physical activity contests are a feasible intervention in nursing home settings.
• These contests can positively impact the motivational climate and enhance physical performance in seniors.