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Exergaming to Increase Physical Activity in Older Adults: Feasibility and Practical Implications.

Patrik RytterströmAnna StrömbergTiny JaarsmaLeonie Klompstra
Published in: Current heart failure reports (2024)
Exergaming is a safe for older adults, potentially increasing physical activity, balance, cognition, and mood. Despite these possible benefits, barriers such as unfamiliarity with equipment, complex controls, and unclear instructions may challenge older adults in exergaming. Based on the experience of older adults, they found exergaming enjoyable, particularly the social interactions. Exergaming was perceived as physically and cognitively demanding, with technical and safety challenges. Introducing exergaming requires thorough familiarization, including written and video instructions, follow-up support, and home accessibility. To be able to follow improvements during exergaming as well as age-appropriate challenges are important for successful integration into daily life. Based on these findings, an ExerGameFlow model for older adults was developed which provides practical implications for future design of exergames and interventions.
Keyphrases
  • physical activity
  • sleep quality
  • body mass index
  • healthcare
  • depressive symptoms
  • mild cognitive impairment
  • bipolar disorder
  • current status