title: A novel dynamic exercise initiative for older people to improve health and well-being: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exercise is an important and effective approach to preventing falls in older people, but adherence to exercise participation remains a persistent problem. A unique purpose-built exercise park was designed to provide a fun but physically challenging environment to support exercise in a community setting. This project is a randomised controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an exercise intervention using an exercise park specifically designed for older people in reducing the risk of falls.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study will be a parallel randomised control trial with pre and post intervention design. One hundred and twenty people aged between 60 and 90 years old will be recruited from Melbourne suburbs and will be randomly allocated to either an exercise park intervention group (EPIG) or a control group (CG). The CG will receive social activities and an educational booklet on falls prevention. The BOOMER balance test will be used as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures will include hand grip strength, two minute walk test, lower limb strength test, spatio-temporal walking parameters, health related quality of life, feasibility, adherence, safety, and a number of other psychosocial measures. Outcome assessment will be conducted at baseline and at 18 and 26 weeks after intervention commencement. Participants will inform their falls and physical activity history for a 12-month period via monthly calendars. Mixed linear modelling incorporating intervention and control groups at the baseline and two follow up time points (18 weeks and 26 weeks after intervention commencement) will be used to assess outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This planned trial will be the first to provide evidence if the exercise park can improve functional and physiological health, psychological and well-being. In addition, this study will provide empirical evidence for effectiveness and explore the barriers to participation and the acceptability of the senior exercise park in the Australian older community.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry-Registry No. ACTRN12614000700639 registered on Jul 3rd 2014.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport, Exercise & Active Living (ISEAL), College of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, VIC, 8001, Australia. myrla.reissales@live.vu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Myrla Patricia Reis
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport, Exercise & Active Living (ISEAL), College of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, VIC, 8001, Australia. rpolman@bournemouth.ac.uk.|Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole House P104a, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB, UK. rpolman@bournemouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Remco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth Western, 6845, Australia. keith.hill@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Keith D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport, Exercise & Active Living (ISEAL), College of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, VIC, 8001, Australia. tuire.karaharju-huisman@live.vu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tuire
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karaharju-Huisman
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport, Exercise & Active Living (ISEAL), College of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, VIC, 8001, Australia. pazit.levinger@vu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Pazit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Levinger
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001315:Australia; D019058:Community Networks; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D016138:Walking