Senior Sport concept harnesses research and design expertise
The design of the Lappset Senior Sport concept is rooted in a special combination of scientific research and design expertise. The team behind the design comprises physiotherapists, geriatric researchers, and industrial designers who collaborated in creating safe, durable, and accessible outdoor fitness equipment specifically tailored for older adults. This expertise ensures that each piece of equipment is ergonomically designed to promote health and encourage socially active aging.
Lappset`s design philosophy
Lappset`s design philosophy originates in the 1970s. At that point, the design was driven by how to create different equipment concepts for both children and adults, to make it unique and modular, and how to utilize raw materials nearby (northern pine).
These facts, of course, still affect Lappset`s design, but nowadays, the design is concentrating deeper to human centered expertise on play, recreation, and sports. We want to offer focused, complete solutions to our customers and be visionary pioneers in innovation, design, and responsibility. Lappset highly values collaboration with top professionals from various fields during the product development process.
The Senior Sport concept design beautifully manifests the distinctive attributes of Lappset design. Its engaging aspects are seen through thoughtfully arranged equipment that promotes both solo and communal activities, encouraging seniors to socialize, engage, and exercise. The design's approachability is mirrored in the intuitive layout and user-friendly equipment, welcoming seniors regardless of their fitness level.
But is the design guiding to the right kind of movement, and are the exercises actually beneficial?
Senior Sport concept – backed by research
Lappset has been studying and developing the Senior Sport concept now over 20 years, and it is based on scientific research results. The initial product development was founded on the results of the Moto+ study, which consisted of seven separate research projects.
A pilot playground was built at the Santa Claus Sports Institute in Rovaniemi, Finland to enable observing and measuring the cooperation and motor development of a preschool playgroup as well as a group of 60–81-year-olds. The project also studied the effect of intensified exercise on the motor skills of aged and preschool children.
Download the material from the children`s play point of view:
A pilot playground in Santa Claus Sports Institute Rovaniemi, Finland
According to Moto+ study:
- exercise enhances mobility, flexibility, balance, coordination, and reactional time
- exercise reduces the impact of illness and chronic disease
- exercise improves sleep
- exercise boosts mental health by improving mood and self-confidence
- exercise helps to maintain or improve muscle power and weight control
- exercise in general, adds confidence to move, decreasing the risk of falling
The right kind of movements to improve senior citizens' health and wellbeing
The Moto+ study also pointed out the right kind of exercise, which is beneficial for seniors to stay in shape. Seniors should train balance, muscle strength, and flexibility of joints, which enhances the ability to perform daily tasks. When the exercise is done regularly and in a suitable way for the seniors, the benefits increase.
Traditional exercise: | Exercises for seniors: | ||
-Fast movements | -Slow movements | ||
-Repetitive movements | -Natural movements | ||
-Build up muscle strength | -Training for balance and coordination | ||
-Competitions | -Activities to support ordinary daily life |
Senior Sport therapy sports area in Vught, The Netherlands
Case Barcelona
When the concept was launched, Lappset Senior Sports parks were established around the world in Asia, Australia, and Europe. In many countries (Spain, Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Holland), physiotherapists arranged guided exercises for seniors.
Case Barcelona, with 600 delivered Lappset Senior Sports parks around Catalonia, showed that the beneficial exercising area should be easily accessible for older individuals, located near a senior cultural or health center, nursing home, care facility, or similar. The area should preferably be shaded, and it would be helpful to have nearby restroom facilities. These were the basic requirements to get seniors to the place and exercise.
The actual exercises were for the aged 65 – 83-year-old individuals. They started with a light warm-up and then continued doing exercises with the Senior Sports equipment, 3 to 5 minutes with each activity spot of the equipment. First, the exercises were based on each participant's fitness level, but the ability to do more demanding exercises faster increased for every trainer.
In addition to the physical improvement, the social relationships of the activated group increased significantly. They even got together to train during the rain and organized other events, like birthday parties, too. The mood of the group was supportive and friendly, where the socio-economic status and background or age didn`t matter at all. Núria Codina, one of the physiotherapists, was very happy with the results and was hoping to continue with the group as long as possible.
Movement for every heartbeat
The proportion of people aged over 65 in industrialized countries is still growing rapidly. How can communities respond to this demographic change? Offering healthy environments and supporting active lifestyles are key factors. In Australia, the recent ENJOY project identified that the physically activating and socially inclusive outdoor recreation spaces increase the well-being of older people. Read more of the study here:
Maintaining the strength, confidence and health of seniors
Communities should consider implementing programs that support this type of lifestyle and encourage seniors to stay fit, agile, and connected to their surroundings. It is up to us as a collective to be proactive in responding to the demographic change. With dedicated professionals and innovative equipment already available, supporting an active life for our seniors can easily become a part of our reality everywhere.
At Lappset, we are revolutionizing the way people interact with movement, play, and exercise. Our dream is to strengthen the heartbeat of more than a billion people by delivering exciting concepts & innovations through our equipment and services that will develop learning curves and ignite imaginations for all ages.
