Physiological responses to “AgeWell Europe” an 8-week online and on-demand multimodal exercise programme for middle-aged and older adults

<ns3:p>Introduction Ageing, sedentary behaviour and/or poor nutrition contribute to increased vulnerability to chronic disease, frailty and loss of independence. An ageing population places greater demands on healthcare systems; thus highlighting the need for accessible, intrinsically motivating and scalable strategies to promote healthy ageing. This study investigated the efficacy of ‘AgeWell Europe’, an 8-week online and on-demand structured multimodal exercise programme designed specifically for middle-aged (MAA) and older-aged adults (OAA). Methods 167 participants were recruited in four countries. Balance (45-second eyes open balance test), lower-body and upper-body muscular endurance (sit-to-stand test (STS) and press-up test, respectively), cardiorespiratory fitness (6-minute walk test (6MWT)), muscular strength ( maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for knee flexion and extension) and vertical jump were assessed pre and post intervention. Physical activity (PA) level (M1 question), wellbeing (WHO-5 Index) and physical self-efficacy (LIVAS) were examined using online questionnaires. Results A total of 121 participants completed the intervention. The age-group analysis (all MAA and OAA) identified significant improvements in STS, press-up and 6MWT performance (p < 0.001). A significant increase in M1 (p < 0.001) and LIVAS (MAA: p = 0.02; OAA: p = 0.04) was observed in both groups. MAA improved vertical jump (p = 0.02) and balance in the left leg (p = 0.02). No significant changes were found for right leg balance, knee strength, or WHO-5 scores (p > 0.05). The sex based analyses revealed significant group-by-time interactions for STS (F = 5.62, p = 0.02) and 6MWT (F = 5.72, p = 0.02), with greater improvements in males than females, while both sexes significantly improvement their press-up scores (p < 0.001). Females significantly increased M1 (p < 0.001), LIVAS (p = 0.003) and right-leg balance (p = 0.03), whereas vertical jump improved only in males (p = 0.03). Conclusion The ‘AgeWell Europe’ intervention significantly improved upper- and lower-body muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory fitness, weekly PA participation and physical self-efficacy in both MAA and OAA. These findings support the effectiveness of digital exercise in promoting functional health in MAA and OAA across Europe.</ns3:p>