Do you exercise with a buddy or by yourself?

two older women having fun and exercising in the park

I'm one of those people who'd rather go for a long walk by myself. However, when we're in the office, there's a lovely park nearby and I love to walk with the editor, talking and taking in the scenes. I also like a slow walk with my family.

As to which I'd prefer? Well, I like them all. As to what is best for my health? Well, all of them have their benefits.

It's not a question most would ask, but it's an area of study that greatly interests our friends at The Universoty of Sydney.

We've buddied up with the research team from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre Musculoskeletal Research Hub to figure out how best to manage musculoskeletal pain, stay active, and thrive.

‘The Buddy Study’ aims to not only get you moving, but also to enhance the physical and mental benefits of exercise.

We reckon it might be better for older people to exercise with a buddy rather than exercising alone.

There is a widely held belief that exercising with family or friends leads to better adherence and health outcomes compared to exercising alone, but the theory has never been tested.

The hypothesis is that older people with back pain would significantly benefit from exercising with someone, whether that be a family member, a friend or a neighbour.

For the study, researchers are seeking people over the age of 50 who have recently had treatment for low back pain.

The NSW Get Healthy Coaching Service provides over-the-phone coaching to assist older people to get active and stay active.

You can choose any activity you like, and the coaches will help you set realistic goals and stay on track with your exercise.

Participants will be randomly allocated to one of three groups:

1. The usual care group
Participants allocated to this group will continue with usual care and follow the advice given to them by their treating healthcare professional. This may or may not include exercise.

2. The health coaching group
Participants allocated to this group will receive up to 13 free coaching sessions through the NSW Get Healthy Initiative to encourage them to increase their physical activity.

3. The buddy exercise group
Participants allocated to this group will receive the same 13 free coaching sessions and will be asked to exercise with a partner or buddy once a week.

If you are interested in finding out more, please visit the Sydney University website – and tell them the YourLifeChoices team sent you! Or you can complete the pre-screening form.

Would you be interested in participating in such a trial? If not, what is holding you back? Do you exercise alone or with a 'buddy'? Which do you prefer: exercising alone, in a group or with a buddy?

4 comments

Do you exercise with a buddy or by yourself?

At the moment that question seems to be governed by lockdown rules.

In my case, if that were not the case, I would prefer to exercise with a group.

RnR - You make a great point about lockdown impacting on how you can exercise. One of the wonderful things about technology is that you can often take it with you. This might be a good opportunity to schedule a regular walk and talk with a friend or family member who lives interstate or too far away for a quick walk? You could even make it a Facetime call rather than just a phone call and use the time to catch up with someone you don't get to speak with enough (while also getting in some physical exercise). One of our Buddy Participants has elected to do exactly this with her sister who she doesn't get to spend enough time with.

Having said that, I would have to ask my teenagers how many people you can Facetime at once if you prefer to exercise with more than one other person!

I exercise with my buddy, he is very patient

Baby Walking Dog GIF - Baby Walking Dog Baby Walking Dog GIFs

Lucca,

I have two very patient canine buddies who accompany me on my daily walks too - There is possibly another research study we should do on this - The value of a canine buddy as opposed to a human buddy???

We are on the same wavelenght KRob. There is no better companion than my dog. I used to belong to a walking club but the jabbering and noise drove me insane. These days walking for me is quiet contemplation.

Although I did Bjelke Petersen Physical Culture in a club for 40 years (to music) - performing specific routines and competing in both teams and individuals, I have never 'walked' for exercise as I considered it a waste of my time when I could be writing (on computer) or dressmaking or cooking. During 30 of those years I also belonged to a tap dancing group who performed many items in small concerts in nursing homes, retirement villages and for service club celebrations, and big concert performances for charity and made many dance costumes for myself and others. I also played every sport available to women in my teens. So over the years (86 of them now) my poor legs took a beating. 

I was still tap dancing until the start of the pandemic when, because of my age, I self-isolated - and most of the time since then - I found that my legs lost a bit of balance and my leg muscles started to collapse; so much so that I couldn't 'walk' any distance even if I wanted to.  The old saying that "if you don't use it you lose it" is correct in my case.

During a break in the 'lock down' situation I joined a group of older women for 'light' exercise (to music) and was just starting to get a bit of strength back in my body and legs when it was back to 'lock down'.  I feel that if I don't keep my legs exercising I will not be able to walk far at all.  So I am relegated to making a space in my home, playing some suitable music, and trying to remember some of the 'light' exercise routines I was starting to learn. 

So if walking is your thing, keep it up as long as you can, but for me, I like variety so prefer doing exercise to a set of different movements including my arms and body other than just 'walking'.

Maureen

 

 

 

 

 

Maureen, you are a woman after my own heart! I am still a passionate ballet dancer and while my legs don't go as high as they used to and my pirouettes are a little more wobbly, the enjoyment I get from the music and the movement are exactly the same.

If you are interested in The Buddy Study, you can choose any sort of exercise you like to participate. You could recruit someone you know to be your Buddy who has always wanted to join you for a dance class at your local community centre or in your own backyard. 

There is so much research into the benefits of dance - from increasing your strength and fitness, to improving your balance and strengthening your bones but also improving your memory and slowing down ageing!

KRob

I was already doing what you propose and had joined my ex-dance teacher in an 'light'exercise class for older women at a local community centre - but COVID has put paid to that at the moment and that is so why I am unhappy about exercise.

 

Maureen, It sounds as though you have done everything you can to stay active. Covid is definitely presenting us all with so many unexpected challenges.

Although it isn't dance and wont be as wonderful as your light exercise at the community centre, have a look at this website - They have some easy ideas about exercising at home and have some great ideas for improving your balance. www.safeexerciseathome.org.au

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