Video games may help promote fitness and encourage older adults to get active, scientists say.
A group of Iowa State University professors developed an eight-week exergaming programme for older adults that combined strength-building exercises with video games, like tennis or bowling.
Researchers measured physical activity levels of the participants before and after the eight-week fitness programme. Nearly half of the participants - all 60 years of age or older - initially described themselves as inactive.
However, by the end of the programme, 52 per cent of those inactive adults had increased their activity levels.
Warren Franke, a professor of kinesiology and collaborator for the "Living well through Intergenerational Fitness and Exercise" (or LIFE) programme had doubts, initially, about the physical outcomes of an exergaming programme.
He was surprised by the fitness benefits and pleased that once people realised those benefits they were encouraged to stick with it.
"By socialising and doing interactive games, older adults are also exercising their brains, building relationships, and so it helps in more than one way," said Jennifer Margrett, an associate professor of human development and family studies and director of the gerontology programme at the university.
High school and college-age trainers led the programme and taught older adults, who may be intimidated by the technology, how to use the gaming systems so they can continue with the programme after the initial eight weeks.
The intergenerational component of the programme is designed to promote interaction between younger and older adults to erase stereotypes and reduce ageism.
Researchers found it made older adults feel important and it improved the outlook on ageing for younger adults.
The results are published in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity.
