Engaging in regular physical activity offers a myriad of benefits, including the improvement of mental health, social well-being, and cognitive function. Unfortunately, obstacles, such as transportation constraints, time limitations, and inadequate exercise facilities, hinder the regular participation of older adults in physical activity. Online group physical activity programs present a promising solution to enhance the involvement of older adults; however, several barriers impede their effective utilization. To explore these barriers and benefits, we conducted semi-structured interviews with participants and instructors of a community-based exercise program. Thematic analysis of interviews with 12 physical activity instructors and eight program participants unveiled key hindrances, including limited awareness and accessibility of online programs, challenges in assessing performance during exercise sessions, lack of social component, and technological difficulties. On the positive side, the benefits encompass convenience, wide accessibility, and enhanced social comfort. We also deliberate on future considerations to further bolster participation in these programs.
BanthamA.Taverno RossS. E.SebastiãoE.HallG. (2021). Overcoming barriers to physical activity in underserved populations. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 64, 64–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2020.11.002
2.
BeauchampM. R.CarronA. V.McCutcheonS.HarperO. (2007). Older adults’ preferences for exercising alone versus in groups: Considering contextual congruence. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 33(2), 200–206. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02879901
3.
BolamK. A.van UffelenJ. G. Z.TaaffeD. R. (2013). The effect of physical exercise on bone density in middle-aged and older men: A systematic review. Osteoporosis International, 24(11), 2749–2762. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-013-2346-1
4.
BoothF. W.RobertsC. K.LayeM. J. (2012). Lack of exercise is a major cause of chronic diseases. Comprehensive Physiology, 2(2), 1143–1211. https://doi.org/10.1002/cphy.c110025
5.
BrillP. A.MaceraC. A.DavisD. R.BlairS. N.GordonN. (2000). Muscular strength and physical function. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 32(2), 412–416. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200002000-00023
6.
ButsonM.JeanesR.O’ConnorJ. (2023). Promoting physical activity participation to older adults: A critical analysis of leisure facility advertising. Managing Sport and Leisure, 0(0), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2023.2228805
7.
CascioM. A.LeeE.VaudrinN.FreedmanD. A. (2019). A team-based approach to open coding: Considerations for creating Intercoder consensus. Field Methods, 31(2), 116–130. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X19838237
8.
ChanD. Y. L.LeeS. W. H.TehP.-L. (2023). Factors influencing technology use among low-income older adults: A systematic review. Heliyon, 9(9), Article e20111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20111
9.
ChenY.PuP. (2014). HealthyTogether: Exploring social incentives for mobile fitness applications. In Proceedings of the second International symposium of Chinese CHI (pp. 25–34). https://doi.org/10.1145/2592235.2592240
10.
ChengS.-J.YuH.-K.ChenY.-C.ChenC.-Y.LienW.-C.YangP.-Y.HuG.-C. (2013). Physical activity and risk of cardiovascular disease among older adults. International Journal of Gerontology, 7(3), 133–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijge.2013.03.001
11.
ChoiE. Y.KanthawalaS.KimY. S.LeeH. Y. (2022). Urban/rural digital divide exists in older adults: Does it vary by racial/ethnic groups?Journal of Applied Gerontology, 41(5), 1348–1356. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648211073605
12.
Cohen-MansfieldJ.MuffA.MeschianyG.Lev-AriS. (2021). Adequacy of web-based activities as a substitute for in-person activities for older persons during the COVID-19 pandemic: Survey study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(1), Article e25848. https://doi.org/10.2196/25848
13.
DebnathB.O’BrienM.YamaguchiM.BeheraA. (2022). A review of computer vision-based approaches for physical rehabilitation and assessment. Multimedia Systems, 28(1), 209–239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00530-021-00815-4
14.
DlaminiT.VilakatiS. (2021). Remote and rural connectivity: Infrastructure and resource sharing principles. Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing, 1(12), Article e6065119. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6065119
15.
DolciniM. M.CancholaJ. A.CataniaJ. A.MayedaM. M. S.DietzE. L.Cotto-NegrónC.NarayananV. (2021). National-level disparities in internet access among low-income and black and hispanic youth: Current population survey. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(10), Article e27723. https://doi.org/10.2196/27723
16.
DunlopW. L.BeauchampM. R. (2011). En-gendering choice: Preferences for exercising in gender-segregated and gender-integrated groups and consideration of overweight status. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 18(3), 216–220. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-010-9125-6
17.
El-KhouryF.CassouB.CharlesM.-A.Dargent-MolinaP. (2015). The effect of fall prevention exercise programmes on fall induced injuries in community dwelling older adults. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(20), 1348. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f6234
18.
ElsawyB.HigginsK. E. (2010). Physical activity guidelines for older adults. American Family Physician, 81(1), 55–59.
19.
Federal Communications Commission. (2020). 2020 broadband deployment report.
20.
FisherJ.SalesA.CarlsonL.SteeleJ. (2017). A comparison of the motivational factors between CrossFit participants and other resistance exercise modalities: A pilot study. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 57(9), 1227–1234. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.16.06434-3
21.
FlauzinodeK. L.PimenteldaM. G. C.BatistoniS. S. T.ZaineI.VieiraL. O. B.RodriguesdaK. R.H.CachioniM. (2020). Digital literacy for older adults: Perceptions about teaching-learning. Educação & Realidade, 45, Article e104913.
22.
GuestG.MacQueenK. M.NameyE. E. (2011). Applied thematic analysis. Sage Publications.
23.
GuiF.TsaiC.-H.VajdaA.CarrollJ. M. (2022). Workout connections: Investigating social interactions in online group exercise classes. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 166, Article 102870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2022.102870
24.
HameedA.MianA. N.QadirJ. (2018). Low-cost sustainable wireless Internet service for rural areas. Wireless Networks, 24(5), 1439–1450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11276-016-1415-8
25.
HartJ. D.PiumsomboonT.LeeG. A.SmithR. T.BillinghurstM. (2021). Manipulating avatars for enhanced communication in extended reality. In 2021 IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Reality (ICIR) (pp. 1–9). https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIR51845.2021.00011
26.
HeckmanG. A.McKelvieR. S. (2008). Cardiovascular aging and exercise in healthy older adults. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 18(6), 479. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0b013e3181865f03
HuiE. K.-H.RubensteinL. Z. (2006). Promoting physical activity and exercise in older adults. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 7(5), 310–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2006.03.006
29.
IbrahimA.ChongM. C.KhooS.WongL. P.ChungI.TanM. P. (2021). Virtual group exercises and psychological status among community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic—a feasibility study. Geriatrics, 6(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics6010031
30.
JiangBoyiHongYangBaoHujunZhangJuyong (2022). SelfRecon: Self reconstruction your digital avatar from monocular video. Proceedings of the IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), 5605–5615.
31.
KandolaA.Ashdown-FranksG.HendrikseJ.SabistonC. M.StubbsB. (2019). Physical activity and depression: Towards understanding the antidepressant mechanisms of physical activity. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 107, 525–539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.09.040
KhanalS. R.PaulinoD.SampaioJ.BarrosoJ.ReisA.FilipeV. (2022). A review on computer vision technology for physical exercise monitoring. Algorithms, 15(12), 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/a15120444
34.
LauB.SharmaI.MankuS.KobylianskiJ.WongL. Y.Ibáñez-CarrascoF.CarusoneS. C.O’BrienK. K. (2022). Considerations for developing and implementing an online community-based exercise intervention with adults living with HIV: A qualitative study. BMJ Open, 12(4), Article e059294. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059294
35.
LiaoTingtingZhangXiaomeiXiuYuliangYiHongweiLiuXudongQiGuo-JunZhangYongWangXuanZhuXiangyuLeiZhen (2023). High-fidelity clothed avatar reconstruction from a single image. Proceedings of the IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, 8662–8672.
36.
LimS. E. R.MeredithS.AgnewS.CliftE.IbrahimK.RobertsH. (2022). Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of virtual group exercise for older adults delivered by trained volunteers: The ImPACt study protocol. BMJ Open, 12(2), Article e052631. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052631
37.
MaciasW.McMillanS. (2008). The return of the house call: The role of internet-based interactivity in bringing health information home to older adults. Health Communication, 23(1), 34–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410230701805174
38.
Martínez-AlcaláC. I.Rosales-LagardeA.Ramírez-SalvadorJ. Á.Jiménez-RodríguezB.Cepeda-RebollarR. M.López-NoguerolaJ. S.Bautista-DíazM. L.Agis-JuárezR. A. (2018). Digital inclusion in older adults: A comparison between face-to-face and blended digital literacy workshops (p. 5). Frontiers in ICT.
39.
McAuleyE.BlissmerB.KatulaJ.DuncanT. E. (2000). Exercise environment, self-efficacy, and affective responses to acute exercise in older adults. Psychology and Health, 15(3), 341–355. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440008401997
40.
McGintyJ. M. (2020). Developing a training program for digital literacy coaches for older adults: Lessons learned from the train-the-trainer program. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 8(11), 62. https://doi.org/10.11114/jets.v8i11.5002
41.
MéndezJ. I.PonceP.MeierA.PefferT.MataO.MolinaA. (2019). Framework for promoting social interaction and physical activity in elderly people using gamification and fuzzy logic strategy. In 2019 IEEE Global Conference on Signal and Information Processing (GlobalSIP) (pp. 1–5). https://doi.org/10.1109/GlobalSIP45357.2019.8969110
42.
Mendoza-VasconezA. S.LinkeS.MuñozM.PekmeziD.AinsworthC.CanoM.WilliamsV.MarcusB. H.LarsenB. A. (2016). Promoting physical activity among underserved populations. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 15(4), 290–297. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0000000000000276
43.
MeyersE. M.EricksonI.SmallR. V. (2013). Digital literacy and informal learning environments: An introduction. Learning, Media and Technology, 38(4), 355–367. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2013.783597
44.
MilanovićZ.PantelićS.TrajkovićN.SporišG.KostićR.JamesN. (2013). Age-related decrease in physical activity and functional fitness among elderly men and women. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 8, 549–556. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S44112.
45.
MoriniS.BassiA.CerulliC.MarinozziA.RipaniM. (2004). Hip and knee joints flexibility in young and elderly people: Effect of physical activity in the elderly.
46.
MorrisD.SaponasT. S.GuilloryA.KelnerI. (2014). RecoFit: Using a wearable sensor to find, recognize, and count repetitive exercises. In Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 3225–3234). https://doi.org/10.1145/2556288.2557116
47.
MoschnyA.PlatenP.Klaaßen-MielkeR.TrampischU.HinrichsT. (2011). Barriers to physical activity in older adults in Germany: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 8(1), 121. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-8-121
48.
Muntaner-MasA.Martinez-NicolasA.LavieC. J.BlairS. N.RossR.ArenaR.OrtegaF. B. (2019). A systematic review of fitness apps and their potential clinical and sports utility for objective and remote assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness. Sports Medicine, 49(4), 587–600. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01084-y
49.
NgiamN. H. W.YeeW. Q.TeoN.YowK. S.SoundararajanA.LimJ. X.LimH. A.TeyA.TangK. W. A.ThamC. Y. X.TanJ. P. Y.LuS. Y.YoonS.NgK. Y. Y.LowL. L. (2022). Building digital literacy in older adults of low socioeconomic status in Singapore (project wire up): Nonrandomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(12), Article e40341. https://doi.org/10.2196/40341
50.
OhS. S.KimK.-A.KimM.OhJ.ChuS. H.ChoiJ. (2021). Measurement of digital literacy among older adults: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(2), Article e26145. https://doi.org/10.2196/26145
51.
PrattM.VarelaA. R.SalvoD.IiiH. W. K.DingD. (2020). Attacking the pandemic of physical inactivity: What is holding us back?British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(13), 760–762. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101392
52.
RatamessN. A.FaigenbaumA. D.HoffmanJ. R.KangJ. (2008). Self-selected resistance training intensity in healthy women: The influence of a personal trainer. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 22(1), 103. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31815f29cc
53.
RejeskiW. J.MihalkoS. L. (2001). Physical activity and quality of life in older adults. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 56(suppl_2), 23–35. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/56.suppl_2.23
RotenbergS.OreperJ. S.BarY.Davids-BrumerN.DawsonD. R. (2023). “It’s better than nothing, but I do not find it to be ideal”: Older adults’ experience of TeleRehab during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 42(5), 811–820. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648221144022
56.
SchwartzH.Har-NirI.WenhodaT.HalperinI. (2021). Staying physically active during the COVID-19 quarantine: Exploring the feasibility of live, online, group training sessions among older adults. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 11(2), 314–322. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibaa141
57.
ShapiraN.BarakA.GalI. (2007). Promoting older adults’ well-being through Internet training and use. Aging and Mental Health, 11(5), 477–484. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607860601086546
58.
SiddiquiN. I.NessaA.HossainM. A. (2010). Regular physical exercise: Way to healthy life. Mymensingh Medical Journal, 19(1), 154–158.
59.
SinF.BergerS.KimI.-J.YoonD. (2021). Digital Social Interaction in Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 5(CSCW2), 1–20). https://doi.org/10.1145/3479524
60.
StødleI. V.DebesayJ.PajalicZ.LidI. M.BerglandA. (2019). The experience of motivation and adherence to group-based exercise of Norwegians aged 80 and more: A qualitative study. Archives of Public Health, 77(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-019-0354-0
61.
SunF.NormanI. J.WhileA. E. (2013). Physical activity in older people: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 13(1), 449. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-449
62.
TsaiH. S.ShillairR.CottenS. R. (2017). Social support and “playing around”: An examination of how older adults acquire digital literacy with tablet computers. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 36(1), 29–55. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464815609440
63.
WarburtonD. E. R.NicolC. W.BredinS. S. D. (2006). Health benefits of physical activity: The evidence. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 174(6), 801–809. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.051351
64.
WilsonM. L.StrayerT. E.DavisR.HardenS. M. (2018). Use of an integrated research-practice partnership to improve outcomes of a community-based strength-training program for older adults: Reach and effect of Lifelong improvements through fitness together (LIFT). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(2), 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15020237
65.
WuQ.SumK.Nathan-RobertsD. (2016). How fitness trackers facilitate health behavior change. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society - Annual Meeting, 60(1), 1068–1072. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541931213601247
66.
XieJ.WenD.LiangL.JiaY.GaoL.LeiJ. (2018). Evaluating the validity of current mainstream wearable devices in fitness tracking under various physical activities: Comparative study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 6(4), Article e9754. https://doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.9754
67.
YorksD. M.FrothinghamC. A.SchuenkeM. D. (2017). Effects of group fitness classes on stress and quality of life of medical students. Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 117(11), e17–e25. https://doi.org/10.7556/jaoa.2017.140
68.
ZhuL. (2021). Computer vision-driven evaluation system for assisted decision-making in sports training. Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing, Article e1865538. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/1865538
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
