Purpose: As the population ages, older adults are living longer, staying active, and increasingly seeking diverse opportunities for physical activity. This demographic change presents both challenges and opportunities: meaningful and accessible exercise options are needed for this growing group. Sports clubs offer a promising platform, but in Finland, they have so far provided limited services for older adults. Many clubs also lack the necessary knowledge and skills to initiate age-inclusive activities. Project or Policy Description: Development. The Age Institute coordinates a national Older People on the Move Programme (OPMP), which promotes active lifestyle among older adults. As part of this work, OPMP has organised educational events for 157 sports clubs, which have expressed a clear need for support in adapting their activities for older adults. Currently, no ready-made concepts for this purpose exist in Finland. To address this need, OPMP, in collaboration with the Finnish Gymnastics Federation, has designed and conceptualised adapted artistic gymnastics for older adults. This activity consists mainly of multi-component physical exercises, which are an essential part of the physical activity guidelines for older adults. Implementation: The concept, which was piloted with older adults, includes a guide with three difficulty levels, instructional videos, and instructor training. Training is organised in cooperation with the Gymnastics Federation: The Federation provides content on adapted artistic gymnastics, while OPMP covers age-specific exercise principles. Implementation was started in 2024 and training is scheduled for a broader dissemination. Evaluation: OPMP piloted the concept and its instructor training with 13 gymnastics clubs. The training was evaluated useful (mean rating points 4.4/5) and would be recommended to others (mean 9.8/10). Dissemination: After completing the training, participants implement the activities locally. The guide and videos are freely available, and regular training sessions are scheduled to support further dissemination. Conclusions: Sports clubs need support in organising physical activities for older adults. This concept of adapted artistic gymnastics provides an effective, scalable solution. Conceptualisation can also be adapted to other sports. Keywords: Active ageing, adapted sports, sports clubs

The role and impact of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) in enhancing emotional wellbeing and strengthening mental health leads back to the roots of this profession and the pioneer Marian Chace, who started her career at St. Elisabeth’s Hospital in 1942 where psychological casualties of World War II were beginning to fill the wards. It was there that ‘Dance for Communication’ was first offered and was the start of what became a new mental health profession called Dance Movement Therapy. The joint Master’s degree programme in Dance Movement Therapy at the Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine & the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre started in 2019. Since 2021, master’s theses in Dance Movement Therapy have explored its application across several thematic areas: mental health and emotional wellbeing; embodiment, identity, and self-exploration; women’s health and life transitions; physical conditions, disability, and pain; eating disorders and body image; occupational and everyday contexts, and creative modalities and ritual. This presentation focuses on 13 master’s theses addressing the role of Dance Movement Therapy in supporting adults’ mental health and emotional wellbeing. The analysis is structured into three thematic categories: (1) the effects of Dance Movement Therapy on depression and anxiety, (2) its role in addressing trauma, emotional pain, (3) its impact on loneliness and challenges in social relationships. Findings from quantitative studies demonstrate the effectiveness of Dance Movement Therapy in preventing depression, while qualitative research highlights the diverse ways in which therapeutic movement fosters emotional resilience and provides resources for coping with psychological distress and trauma integration. Together, these studies contribute to a growing body of evidence on the integrative potential of Dance Movement Therapy in adult mental health care.

There is extensive recent literature on play/dance as a physical activity that is beneficial to our physical, mental, and social wellbeing. The speakers of the symposium, movement pedagogists and therapists from three different countries, discuss the role of movement/dance in early childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Study 1 uses an embodied cognition model to understand the relationship between motor competence (MC) and executive functioning (EF) from early childhood to school age. It identifies diverse school readiness profiles in 91 children, revealing that while MC varies significantly, EF and language skills are consistently scored. The study calls for a deeper understanding of the overlap between motor, cognitive, and social skills when evaluating school readiness, as it may mitigate developmental disparities. Study 2 assesses a four-week dance-focused exergaming intervention on cognitive and psychological outcomes in adolescents, finding that while dance exposure improved working memory, psychological wellbeing changes are complex to demonstrate. Study 3 reviews 13 theses on Dance Movement Therapy (DMT), underscoring its potential in enhancing mental health and coping strategies, particularly in preventing depression. Lastly, Study 4 evaluates the preventive role of dance for neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly, with evidence showing brain volume increases and improved physical fitness in participants with cognitive impairment after dance training, highlighting dance’s contribution to neuroplasticity and overall health in older adults. The symposium emphasises the significant benefits of dance for overall health and concludes by underscoring the importance of integrating dance into programmes for diverse populations, fostering a sense of community. The audience is invited to discuss how to facilitate interdisciplinary research on pedagogical and therapeutic applications of dance related to important themes: 1. Systematic recording of the transformative health benefits of dance as an engaging form of physical activity; 2. Ways to enhance research on the relationship between dance, cognitive function, and mental wellbeing; 3. Quantitative and qualitative assessment tools applied to investigate dance interventions across health conditions; 4. The role of diverse dance styles that appeal to different age/gender/ethnic groups; 5. Creating inspiring physical activity policies and recommendations that include dance to promote healthy self-concept, body image, and reduce anxiety.

Purpose: This study investigates whether participants of the Flemish programme Physical Activity on Referral (PAR) maintain increased physical activity levels after the coaching ends, focusing on long-term behavioural changes and changes in psychosocial determinants of physical activity. Methods: An online survey was conducted among former PAR participants, distributed by PAR coaches. Responses from 94 respondents were analysed. The survey included questions about physical activity levels and psychosocial determinants ( e.g. motivation, barriers, and self-efficacy) before the start of PAR (pre), at the end of the coaching (post), and at the time of the survey (follow-up). Participants self-reported their activity levels and experiences. Guidance of the PAR trajectory varied based on need for support, up to a maximum of 14 hours of individual coaching spread over two years. All participants received the questionnaire simultaneously and had completed the coaching at least three months to over two years ago. Results: The survey revealed that 63.8% of respondents reported higher physical activity levels at follow-up compared to before the programme, while 24.5% maintained the same level of activity. A notable finding was that a significant number of participants increased their activity levels even after the coaching ended. The study found no significant differences in the change in physical activity levels from pre to follow-up based on gender, educational level, or age group. At follow-up the respondents had less barriers to be physically active compared to pre. Among the group that is more physically active from pre to follow-up, the following psychosocial determinants improved: autonomous motivation increased, controlled motivation decreased, social support increased, and self-efficacy increased. Conclusions: The PAR programme seems to contribute to sustainable behavioural changes in physical activity. These findings suggest that the coaching methods used in PAR can lead to long-term increases in physical activity. Limitations of this study include self-reporting of physical activity from a long time ago (recall bias) and the absence of a control group. Support/Funding Source: This study was conducted in collaboration with master students of UGent and supported by the Fleming Institute of Healthy Living. No additional funding was in place

Purpose: Equity in physical activity (PA) is a critical issue, with disadvantaged groups having the lowest PA levels and facing barriers to be physically active. The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasised equity as a guiding principle of its Global Action Plan, underscoring the need to embed this principle in PA policy and practice. In recent years, various tools have been developed to monitor and assess PA policies, aiming to contribute to future policy development. One of these tools is the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI) that assesses the extent of policy implementation across 45 indicators. This study aimed to develop an equity module for the PA-EPI to systematically incorporate an equity perspective into its application. Methods: The development of the PA-EPI equity module involved a four-step process: (1) Analysing key findings from a literature review on equity and PA to identify policy characteristics that affect inequities; (2) Conducting a search for additional scientific publications and key policy documents to extract equity-related guidance; (3) Drafting the PA-EPI equity module based on the extracted data, and (4) Refining and finalising the module through a series of expert workshops. Results: The PA-EPI equity module provides specific guidance for 38 of the 45 PA-EPI indicators, and is currently based on 29 studies and 25 policy documents. This new component of the tool is embedded into the evidence document template to ensure that equity-related aspects are systematically considered when using the PA-EPI. This may include the identification of PA policies targeting vulnerable groups as well as assessing the extent of their implementation. Conclusion: The PA-EPI equity module represents a novel approach to incorporating equity as a guiding principle into policy assessment tools. While it is particularly useful for researchers, stakeholders, and government officials utilising the PA-EPI, the module may also inform other initiatives by synthesising current guidance on equity and PA policy. Future research is needed to test the module’s applicability and its contribution to enhancing the equity focus in PA policy monitoring. Support/Funding Source: This is part of the project IMPAQT which is funded from Ireland, Health Research Board; Poland, National Centre for Research and Development; Germany, Federal Ministry of Education and Research; The Netherlands, The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development; Romania, Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding; Lithuania, Research Council of Lithuania, under the umbrella of the Partnership Fostering a European Research Area for Health (ERA4Health) (GA N° 101095426 of the EU Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme). Keywords: Physical activity, policy, equity, monitoring

Purpose: Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience heat sensitivity, with elevated temperatures increasing the risk of injury, healthcare costs, and decreased productivity. While the effects of whole-body or ambient heat exposure have been widely studied, the impact of localised thermal stress – particularly on central and peripheral neuromuscular function – remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether applying localised heat to the head and neck during prolonged submaximal exercise in a thermoneutral environment would affect neuromuscular fatigue in healthy men and individuals with MS. Methods: We examined the effects of head-and-neck heating (44 ± 0.5°C at the skin surface) in men with relapsing-remitting MS (n = 16; age: 31.8 ± 7.6 years) and healthy controls (n = 18; age: 27.6 ± 4.3 years). Each participant completed two trials – one with local heating and one control trial – separated by one week. The protocol involved 100 intermittent isometric knee extensions (5 seconds contraction, 20 seconds rest). Measurements included electrically induced torque, maximal voluntary contraction, central activation ratio, muscle temperature (Tmu), perceived effort, and blood stress markers. Data were collected at baseline, after 50 and 100 contractions, and following a 1-hour recovery period. Results: Local heating during submaximal exercise significantly reduced central activation and attenuated peripheral fatigue in men with MS compared to the control condition (p < 0.05). Head-and-neck heating also increased Tmu and perceived effort in both groups (p < 0.05). Notably, the effects of local heating on central and peripheral fatigability were more pronounced in the MS group than in healthy controls (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Head-and-neck heating during exercise resulted in greater suppression of central muscle activation and a more substantial reduction in peripheral fatigue in men with MS compared to non-heated conditions. These effects were significantly more pronounced in individuals with MS than in healthy controls, suggesting a heightened neuromuscular sensitivity to localised thermal stress in this population.

Purpose: Due to an increase in life expectancy, the number of elderly people with dementia is increasing rapidly. This group largely lives at home, does not have much physical activity (PA), and therefore becomes dependent earlier and requires assistance and care for activities of daily living. In the Netherlands, there are no interventions at a national level for this group. Earlier, an online tool was developed in collaboration with researchers, containing background information, videos, and manuals for use by formal and informal care providers. The tool has been implemented via our broad network of organisations that focus on care and support for the elderly and is widely used since implementation. Project Description: The content and use of the tool has recently been evaluated by means of standardised interviews with professionals from healthcare, welfare, and sports, and with other national organisations that focus on people with dementia. Partly based on these conversations, the tool is being expanded so that it provides a broader picture of aspects that are important, such as more scientific evidence, tools for dealing with dementia, and examples of exercise outside the healthcare sector. The tool is now also suitable for the PA sector and for better use by local policy. The responsibility lies with the latter to enable all elderly people to live at home longer with as little support as possible. The renewed tool is being distributed via the original network of national organisations, now expanded to include stakeholders from municipal policy and the welfare and sports sector. Conclusion: The online tool meets the needs of stakeholders to enable people with dementia living at home to have more PA, thereby promoting physical and mental health and self-reliance. Keywords: Dementia, physical activity, older persons, online tool

Purpose: Sleep disturbances are a significant public health concern due to their negative impact on psychological wellbeing. At the same time, physical activity can improve sleep quality and promote mental health. Since both sleep quality and physical activity are independently related to psychological wellbeing and physical activity may influence sleep, it is plausible that sleep quality mediates the relationship between physical activity and mental health. However, this hypothesis has not yet been examined. This study investigated whether sleep quality mediates the relationship between physical activity levels and psychological wellbeing. Methods: An anonymous online survey was completed by 160 volunteers from the general population aged 18–65. Sleep quality was assessed using the Sleep Quality Scale (SQS), with higher scores indicating poorer sleep. Psychological wellbeing was measured with the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form (MHC-SF). Physical activity levels were classified as insufficient (1), moderate (2), or high (3), based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Mediation analysis, based on linear regression with bootstrapped confidence interval (CI), was conducted to estimate direct and indirect effects. Repeated contrasts were applied to IPAQ categories to compare adjacent levels (2 vs 1, 3 vs 2). Results: A significant indirect effect was observed for moderate versus insufficient physical activity (estimate = 1.78; 95% CI = 0.24, 4.24; β = 0.055), indicating that moderate activity was associated with greater psychological wellbeing through improved sleep quality. Higher physical activity was generally linked to better sleep, which in turn predicted enhanced wellbeing. In contrast, no significant indirect or direct effects were found for the comparison between high and moderate activity levels (estimate = –0.06; 95% CI = –1.87, 1.50; β = –0.002). Thus, moderate activity appeared more beneficial than insufficient levels, while increasing activity beyond moderate levels did not confer additional psychological benefits via sleep quality. Conclusion: These findings highlight sleep quality as a key mediator linking physical activity and psychological wellbeing. Interventions that promote even moderate levels of physical activity may enhance sleep and, consequently, mental health. Future studies should explore these associations longitudinally to determine causality and consider demographic or individual differences. Personalised lifestyle interventions, particularly for individuals with limited access to physical activity, warrant further investigation.

Introduction: For some decades, snow classes (SC) in the Alps have been an optional activity in Flemish primary and secondary schools. However, winter sports are recognised as both a motor and victim of climate change. Transport, intense reliance on infrastructure and equipment, land use, maintenance of slopes, and providing acceptable (artificial) snow conditions create a considerable ecological impact, and at the same time clarify why winter sports are relatively expensive. The aim of the present study was to gain insight into school boards’ reasons for (not) organising SC in Flemish primary and secondary schools, now and in the coming years. Methods: An online questionnaire using Qualtrics software was sent out to all Flemish primary and secondary schools in Flanders and the Brussels-Capital Region (n = 3,362). Questions were categorised into: 1) barriers, 2) SC modalities and activities, 3) expectations for future SC. Results: Response rate was 7.8% (n = 262). The majority (n = 188, 72%) declared not to organise SC but 76 of these schools had considered it and abstained from organising, reporting the following barriers: ‘expensive’ (95%), ‘high ecological footprint’ (22%), ‘safety concerns’ (21%), ‘organisational complexity’ (21%), ‘lack of qualified staff’ (20%), ‘no pedagogical added value’ (11%), ‘little student interest’ (9%). SC-organising schools reported the following barriers: ‘expensiveness’ (90%), ‘lack of qualified staff’ (39%), ‘safety concerns’ (26%), ‘unforeseen conditions (e.g. no snow)’ (13%), ‘organisational complexity’ (12%), and ‘ecological footprint’ (2%). SC are organised annually or biennially and last 6–10 days, costing students between <€500 and €1,100. Students always practice alpine skiing/snowboarding usually in combination with hiking and other team activities, which is complemented by educational workshops on the alpine environment in 24% of the schools. Seventy-seven percent of school boards believe that climate change will negatively impact SC, mainly financially and on snow quality. Conclusion: Taking response bias into account, financial issues are most prominent for organising SC and school boards believe climate change will worsen this. Interestingly, a discrepancy in reporting ecological issues was observed between schools that do and do not organise SC. As schools shift away from SC, ecological aspects should be considered for any alternatives.

Purpose: Cities have a crucial role in promoting health and climate neutrality through sustainable transport and mobility. Behavioural frameworks may improve the effectiveness of promotion. This study applied the elements of two well-recognised frameworks – Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) and Socioecological model (SEM) – to the Climate City Contracts (CCCs) and Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) of the six Finnish EU Mission Cities. The study was a part of a larger investigation aiming to strengthen the transformative capacity of the cities to promote climate neutrality and public health through sustainable transport and mobility. Methods: The data included the sustainable transport and mobility actions presented in the CCCs and SUMPs of the cities. First, the actions were mapped into the elements of BCW. Second, the same actions were mapped against the multiple levels of SEM. Third, the actions in the SUMPs were analysed. Results: Altogether, 51 individual actions were discovered in the CCCs. Forty (78%) actions were mappable to BCW. Most actions targeted psychological capabilities and physical opportunities. The actions appeared quite vague for the practical implementation, and their variability seemed quite narrow considering the size and heterogeneity of the population. Forty-seven (92%) actions in CCCs were mappable against SEM. The actions focused mainly on policy level. Some community level and institutional actions were also discovered. Very few or no actions were planned at the individual or interpersonal level. The actions in SUMPs were much more detailed and pragmatic than in CCCs. Also, the number of actions was far greater and in most cities the actions were listed under specific developmental themes and/or goals. Due to the differences in presenting the actions and the high number of actions, mapping against BCW or SEM was not applicable. Conclusion: Behavioural frameworks were scarcely utilised in the CCCs. The SUMPs seemed more promising, but their diversity prevented from making behavioural conclusions about the actions. To summarise, there is much unused potential to include health behaviour frameworks in the promotion of sustainable transport and mobility to achieve better accessibility, feasibility, and effectiveness. Support/Funding Source: The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland