What did we do?

Strength recommendations have been embedded within the UK’s Chief Medical Officers’ physical activity guidelines (CMO PAG) since 2011.

 

In 2019, the strength recommendations were given a more prominent position on the guidelines infographic. However, there is limited evidence that these recommendations have been successful in their population-wide dissemination. 

 

We explored the response to the CMO PAG (in relation to strength training) and evidence whether they:

 

• Had been adopted into routine referral pathways

• Were adhered to by exercise specialists in practice

• Had been understood by older adults.

 

 

Why was this important?

This knowledge (and any barriers to adoption) is important to consider when further developing referral pathways, exercise interventions, and improving dissemination strategies of more detailed strength guidelines.
 

 

How did we do it?

We conducted semi-structured interviews with:

 

• Older adults to determine whether the guidelines had reached their intended audience and if so, determine if they had made a change to their exercise routines as a result.

• Exercise specialists to explore whether CMO strength guidelines had informed/changed practice.

 

 

Downloadable resources:

 

• Publication
  • Gluchowski A, Bilsborough H, McDermott J, Hawley-Hague H & Todd C., (2022). 'A lot of people just go for walks, and don't do anything else': Older adults in the UK are not aware of the strength componant embedded in the chief medical officers' physical activity guidelines - a qualitative study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
  • Gluchowski A, Bilsborough H, McDermott J, Hawley-Hague H, Todd C (2023). Exercise instructors are not consistently implementing the strength component of the UK chief medical officers’ physical activity guidelines in their exercise prescription for older adults. BMC Public Health.
• Blog
  • “I don’t do anything”: It’s time to place more emphasis on strength training in later life - by Dr Ashley Gluchowski via Policy@Manchester (published November 2022) 

 

More information

 

 

 

Programme Manager
Alison Littlewood
alison.j.littlewood@manchester.ac.uk