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Resistance Exercise and Peer Support with Bands/Balls and Digitally-based Supervision: (REPS w/BANDS): a feasibility
Pamela J Wright1, Cynthia F Corbett2
1Advancing Chronic Care Outcomes through Research and iNnovation (ACORN) Center, Department of Biobehavioral Health and Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, 1601 Greene Street, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA. wrightpamelaj@sc.edu.
Background:
Exercise is a first-line treatment for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, research findings reveal that women with PCOS report low exercise motivation due to PCOS stigma-related stress and lack of social connection, inhibiting exercise in public and group settings. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an in-home resistance exercise program supervised in real time by personal trainers using smart home video devices (SHVDs) with peer support through a buddy system.
Methods:
This one-arm feasibility study incorporated strategies from self-determination theory to meet participants' psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Participants (N = 10) received an SHVD and exercise equipment (bands, stability ball). Personal trainers supervised 2 individual RE sessions per week for 12 weeks per participant via the SHVD's video feature. Participants were randomly paired with a buddy and encouraged to connect weekly for peer support. Feasibility, acceptability, depressive symptoms, anthropometrics, and muscular endurance were measured using surveys, fitness testing, and interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using t-tests. Qualitative data were analyzed via thematic analysis.
Results:
Participants were 26.6 (8.8) years, mostly White (70%), educated (90% some college or more), and diagnosed with ≥ 1 comorbidity. Data yielded 100% recruitment, 74% attendance, 80% retention, and a 4.8 rating (excellent on 5-point scale) for acceptability. Further findings revealed pre-post signals of improvements in depressive symptoms, muscular endurance, and waist circumference. Only one buddy pair (20%) made consistent contact. Participants preferred a buddy with similar life experiences in terms of life phase (e.g., student, mother) along with the shared PCOS identity.
Conclusions:
REPS w/BANDS is feasible and has potential to improve mental and physical health outcomes. Participants reported increased exercise motivation due to rapport with the personal trainer and the personal trainer's PCOS knowledge, use of SDT strategies, and interest in the participants' fitness progress. REPS w/BANDS was revised based on findings and will be piloted as a larger randomized controlled trial.
Trial Registration:
The study was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06629883) on September 20, 2024.
