Exergaming: Effects on Elderly in a Smart Gym Environment
Renke, Robert (2018)
Renke, Robert
Kajaanin ammattikorkeakoulu
2018
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018061814055
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018061814055
Tiivistelmä
Age related changes and chronic conditions affect older adult’s everyday life. Physical activity is proven to delay and reduce age related symptoms and conditions in elderly. Especially bal-ance and strength training should be targeted to help in fall prevention, since falls are the num-ber one reason for serious injuries in older adults.
Exergames combine physical activity with games and provide mental, physical as well as social benefits for elderly. They are an innovative and fun method to reach the recommended amount of daily physical activity or to encourage and motivate sedentary people to be active.
Enjoyment and fun during the exergames is a major condition that needs to be present in all ex-ergames.
The thesis supports the claim that exergames provide health benefits for elderly. Especially strength and balance development through exergames proves to be a viable option for fall pre-vention. Cognitive improvements and mental benefits in elderly were achieved with exergaming equipment.
The aim and purpose of the thesis is to present scientifically reliable information about physical activity and exergaming, that will be used to produce a product for the commissioning party.
The product will be presented in a Portable Document Format (PDF), that contains exercise rec-ommendations for elderly in the newly build smart gym. The exercises and workouts will be fo-cused on strength and balance training for elderly. Additionally, the product will include safety information about physical activity with chronic conditions.
The research tasks of my Thesis were:
1.To find scientifically reliable information about physical activity and exergames.
2.Using scientifically reliable information to create a strength and balance program.
3.What are the major chronic conditions to consider?
4.How to build strength and balance in the smart gym?
5.Are elderly people benefiting from new technology and Exergames?
Exergames combine physical activity with games and provide mental, physical as well as social benefits for elderly. They are an innovative and fun method to reach the recommended amount of daily physical activity or to encourage and motivate sedentary people to be active.
Enjoyment and fun during the exergames is a major condition that needs to be present in all ex-ergames.
The thesis supports the claim that exergames provide health benefits for elderly. Especially strength and balance development through exergames proves to be a viable option for fall pre-vention. Cognitive improvements and mental benefits in elderly were achieved with exergaming equipment.
The aim and purpose of the thesis is to present scientifically reliable information about physical activity and exergaming, that will be used to produce a product for the commissioning party.
The product will be presented in a Portable Document Format (PDF), that contains exercise rec-ommendations for elderly in the newly build smart gym. The exercises and workouts will be fo-cused on strength and balance training for elderly. Additionally, the product will include safety information about physical activity with chronic conditions.
The research tasks of my Thesis were:
1.To find scientifically reliable information about physical activity and exergames.
2.Using scientifically reliable information to create a strength and balance program.
3.What are the major chronic conditions to consider?
4.How to build strength and balance in the smart gym?
5.Are elderly people benefiting from new technology and Exergames?