Comparative Responses To A Social Media Enhanced Physical Activity Program In Older Males And Females

Abstract

Most older adults fail to adhere to the multicomponent (aerobic, muscle strengthening, balance training), 2018 Physical Activity (PA) Guidelines. Thus, effective and sustainable multicomponent PA programs that promote adherence in older adults remains a public health priority, especially for females given their higher rates of physical inactivity and risk for physical disability compared to males. PURPOSE: To examine if sex/gender influences the effects of a multicomponent 10-week PA intervention grounded in Social Cognitive Theory and augmented with social media (Facebook) on program attendance and engagement, PA behaviors, muscle capacity, and lower extremity physical function (LEPF) in older adults. METHODS: Physically inactive older adults (71.3 ± 4.3 yo; n=28, 64% female) completed a 10-week multicomponent PA program that included 1) a twice weekly supervised exercise class (muscle strength and balance training) with PA behavior education, 2) Facebook engagement, and 3) an unsupervised walking prescription. PA behaviors were assessed via accelerometer, questionnaires and pedometer step count logs. Conventional measures of leg strength and power along with a battery of LEPF tests were also employed [6-minute walk (6MW), 8-foot up and go (UPGO), chair stands (CHAIR), and transfer task (TRANSFER)]. A two-way [Gender (G) x Time (T)] ANOVA was utilized to determine significance of change. RESULTS: There was a trend for higher class attendance in females compared to males (96.7±3.8% vs. 92.0±6.7%, p=0.06). Females also had a 2.3-fold greater engagement in Facebook compared to males (p=0.01). Males and females improved PA behaviors similarly (T p<0.05; GxT and G p>0.05). Muscle capacity improved similarly (T p<0.05) with males, as expected, having higher leg strength and power (G p<0.05; GxT p>0.05). Regarding LEPF, improvements occurred in 6MW, UPGO and TRANSFER (T p<0.05; GxT p>0.05) with males also having higher functional capacity, as anticipated, in 6MW, UPGO, and CHAIR (G p<0.05). CONCLUSION: A 10-week PA/EX program improves PA behavior, muscle capacity, and LEPF similarly in older males and females. Implementation science research is needed to develop effective and sustainable multicomponent PA programs for older adults which may differ by social factors in older females compared to males.