Active Older Adults Park-Based Exercise Program Study Evaluating Fitness and Health Benefits for Adults 50 to 95 Years Old

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a park-based fitness program on cardiovascular fitness and overall health outcomes for older adults aged 50 years and older. The study aims to support older adults in maintaining independent lifestyles through physical activity and falls prevention. Duke University is conducting a secondary analysis of data collected from this program, which is run by Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation. The program includes one-hour exercise sessions held two or three times per week, either online or in person. These sessions involve aerobic workouts, strength training, balance, and flexibility exercises, delivered by bilingual licensed instructors at eight park locations in Miami-Dade. The program is low-cost, evidence-based, and consistent across all locations. Participants attend sessions regularly and have their body mass index, blood pressure, arm and leg strength, and mobility measured at the start, 12 months, and 36 months. Researchers track these changes to assess the programs impact on cardiovascular fitness and physical function. The study spans multiple years, allowing long-term observation of health outcomes in older adults.

Community Park-Based Programs for Health Promotion: Active Older Adults Prospective Cohort Study