Elders Moving Together: A Pilot Study

This pilot study evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the Saskatchewan Forever in Motion (FIM) group exercise program in a First Nations community in northwestern Saskatchewan. The study examines changes in physical activity, social connectedness, and quality of life among older adults participating in a 12-week community-led exercise program. The project also explores access-related factors that support participation in community-based exercise programs.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Indigenous Older Adult Health and Wellbeing
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Exercise Program

Detailed Description

The Saskatchewan Forever in Motion (FIM) program is an evidence-based group exercise program for older adults that includes walking, gentle resistance band exercises, balance training, and stretching. The program is delivered by trained community members and aims to reduce barriers to physical activity such as cost, transportation, and cultural insensitivity.

This pilot study will implement the FIM program on Saulteaux First Nation, Saskatchewan, Canada. Twenty adults aged 50+ will be recruited. Participants will attend twice-weekly group exercise sessions for 12 weeks. Data collection includes baseline and post-program surveys assessing physical activity (PASE), quality of life (SF-36), and social connectedness (SPS-10), as well as attendance tracking and qualitative sharing circles exploring access-related factors.

Quantitative data will be analyzed for pre-post changes, and qualitative data will undergo inductive thematic analysis. Findings will inform future implementation of culturally safe exercise programs in Indigenous communities.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Saskatchewan
    • Saulteaux First Nation, Saskatchewan, Canada
      • Saulteaux First Nation Health Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 50+
• Band member or resident of Saulteaux First Nation
• Able to participate in low-intensity exercise
• Adults under 50 may attend, but priority is given to those 50+

Exclusion Criteria:

• Uncontrolled cardiovascular, metabolic, pulmonary, or renal conditions as identified by the CSEP PAR-Q+
• Determined unable to safely participate in group exercise even with support
• Unable to provide informed consent and no appropriate substitute decision-maker available

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Participant Arm; All participants are in this single arm of the study, where they receive 12 weeks of twice-weekly exercise programming in their community	Behavioral: Exercise Program; Participants will exercise twice weekly in a group exercise program led by community members at a community center on Saulteaux First Nation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Feasibility of Program Implementation	Feasibility assessed through enrollment numbers, weekly attendance, and adherence (percentage of sessions attended per participant).	12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Physical Activity (PASE)	Self-reported physical activity measured using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly.	12 weeks
Change in Quality of Life (SF-36)	Self-reported quality of life measured using the Short Form-36 questionnaire.	12 weeks
Change in Social Connectedness (SPS-10)	Self-reported social connectedness measured using the Social Provision Scale-10.	12 weeks
Access-Related Factors Supporting Participation	Qualitative themes from sharing circles and weekly checklists exploring what helped participants access the program.	12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Saskatchewan
• Collaborators: Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF); Saulteaux First Nation, SK
• Investigators: Study Chair: Anne Leis, PhD, University of Saskatchewan

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 11, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 21, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): December 21, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 24, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 1, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Wellbeing; Exercise; Health Promotion; Cultural Safety; Indigenous Peoples
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Motor Activity; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Patient Care; Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Resistance Training
• Other Study ID Numbers: BIO4284

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: No - data will be owned by the participating First Nations communities in accordance with Indigenous data sovereignty principles.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No