By Bond University Journalism Students, James Stevenson and Candice Dixon.
Proactive women between the ages of 65-74 from Varsity Lakes and other Gold Coast areas have taken to the treadmill as part of a research study to develop an understanding into what ‘dosage’ of exercise is needed to fight chronic disease and disability.
STEP ForWARD, the collaborative health research project between Bond and Griffith Universities, seeks to provide preventative and health promotion strategies for this group of Australians.
The majority of participants are required to exercise 120 minutes a week for 24 weeks, while the control group goes without regular exercise.
Dr Clare Minahan, one of the Chief Investigators from Griffith University said the program offers great potential in addressing health issues.
“GPs will be able to prescribe exercise like pharmaceuticals,” she said.
Ninety percent of the research is housed at Bond University, with participants sourced from Varsity Lakes, Robina and surrounding areas.
An unexpected result of the tests is that the well-being of participants has been further enriched by the social interaction brought about by the regular exercise.
Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, the project is set to continue until it reaches its goal of recruiting 120 participants.
Dr Minahan said: “With nearly 11 000 women between the ages of 65-74 living on the Gold Coast, the research team is still in need of additional participants.”
To contribute to this initiative, contact Tracey Norling at 55 95 4463, or at tnorling@bond.edu.au.