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Revolution or Empty Promise? A 6- and 12-Month Follow-Up to an RCT of the Online Exercise Program PERMANENTO in Older
Katerina Machacova1, Hana Polanska1,2, Michal Steffl3
1Centre of Expertise in Longevity and Long-Term Care, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Background:
Maintaining long-term engagement in physical activity programs among older adults remains challenging. This study examines actual and potential sustainability and adherence to a home-based online exercise program at six- and twelve-month follow-ups, while also analyzing perceived barriers, facilitators, and benefits.
Methods:
This follow-up study included 82 independent, home-dwelling older adults (mean age 73.7 ± 3.4; 77% female) who had previously completed a 12-week randomized controlled trial. 6- and 12-months sustainability and adherence were assessed using a custom-designed online questionnaire. Actual sustainability measured ongoing participation, while potential sustainability reflected willingness to engage in regular exercise. Participants were classified as regular, irregular, or non-exercisers, with follow-up closed-ended, semi-open, and open-ended questions exploring influencing factors. Adherence was categorized as high, moderate, or none, based on participation frequency and consistency. Data analysis combined quantitative (descriptive statistics) and qualitative (thematic analysis) approaches.
Results:
At six months, 79.3% of participants remained engaged, decreasing to 70.7% at twelve months, while potential sustainability remained high at 89% and 78.1%, respectively. High adherence was observed in 51.3% at six months and 47.8% at twelve months. Barriers included a lack of motivation and time, while social support and external incentives facilitated adherence. Most reported benefits among exercisers at the six- and twelve-month follow-ups were improved well-being (43/42), flexibility (41/37), and energy (20/20).
Conclusion:
This study confirms that long-term sustainability and adherence to home-based online exercise programs are achievable. The findings underscore the importance of understanding and flexible engagement models and highlight the potential for integrating similar strategies into future exercise programs for older adults.
