P04-05 Testing muscle strength and dynamic balance in older recreational golfers and healthy sedentary non-golfers in community settings

Abstract Background Regular physical activity is known to reduce premature mortality, and help prevent and manage chronic diseases. Despite this, older people are not sufficiently active. Playing golf is associated with better aerobic fitness and mental wellbeing but evidence of a relationship with strength and balance is lacking. If the physical demands of golf are sufficient to meet the World Health Organisation recommendations for strength and balance, golf may qualify for exercise on prescription/social prescribing for people with long-term conditions. The hypothesis of this ongoing study is that playing recreational golf will be associated with better strength and balance in older people. Data are presented for grip strength and dynamic balance in golfers and sedentary older adults, tested using simple techniques suitable in community settings. Methods Seventy nine healthy older participants (aged 65-79 years) have been studied: 62 golfers (n = 31 females, 31 males) and 17 sedentary non golfers (9 males, 8 females). Difficulties in recruiting sedentary participants and then the outbreak of Covid-19 explain the discrepancy between group sizes. Golfers played 18 holes at least once a week for minimum of two years. Grip strength was tested for the right hand using the MIE hand-grip dynamometer, with results normalized to body weight. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Y-balance test, with reaching distance normalized to lower-limb length. Non-parametric statistics were used due to unequal group sizes. Results Grip strength was significantly greater in golfers than non-golfers (median and interquartile range); males and females combined; golfers 4.3±1.2; non-golfers 3.3±1.9 (p=0.039*; Mann-Whitney). The Y-balance performance was also significantly better in golfers than non-golfers (p=0.002*: Mann-Whitney). Normalised composite reach distance data (3 directions) for the right side were greater in golfers (81.7±13.3) than non-golfers (74.2±17.2). Conclusions These preliminary data indicate that playing recreational golf at least once a week is associated with greater grip strength and better dynamic balance in older golfers compared to sedentary non-golfers. These findings support further data collection (when permitted) to produce reference data. This will allow parametric statistical analysis to determine whether conclusive evidence will support the hypothesis, forming the basis of a randomised controlled trial.


Background
Regular physical activity is known to reduce premature mortality, and help prevent and manage chronic diseases. Despite this, older people are not sufficiently active. Playing golf is associated with better aerobic fitness and mental wellbeing but evidence of a relationship with strength and balance is lacking. If the physical demands of golf are sufficient to meet the World Health Organisation recommendations for strength and balance, golf may qualify for exercise on prescription/social prescribing for people with long-term conditions. The hypothesis of this ongoing study is that playing recreational golf will be associated with better strength and balance in older people. Data are presented for grip strength and dynamic balance in golfers and sedentary older adults, tested using simple techniques suitable in community settings. Methods Seventy nine healthy older participants (aged 65-79 years) have been studied: 62 golfers (n = 31 females, 31 males) and 17 sedentary non golfers (9 males, 8 females). Difficulties in recruiting sedentary participants and then the outbreak of Covid-19 explain the discrepancy between group sizes. Golfers played 18 holes at least once a week for minimum of two years. Grip strength was tested for the right hand using the MIE hand-grip dynamometer, with results normalized to body weight. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Y-balance test, with reaching distance normalized to lower-limb length. Nonparametric statistics were used due to unequal group sizes.

Conclusions
These preliminary data indicate that playing recreational golf at least once a week is associated with greater grip strength and better dynamic balance in older golfers compared to sedentary non-golfers. These findings support further data collection (when permitted) to produce reference data. This will allow parametric statistical analysis to determine whether conclusive evidence will support the hypothesis, forming the basis of a randomised controlled trial. Keywords: Ageing, physical activity, golf, strength, balance Abstract citation ID: ckac095.060 P04-06 Employing citizen science to promote active and healthy ageing across diverse local urban communities in Birmingham, UK

Background
Incorporating age-friendly elements across urban environments can promote active and healthy ageing by facilitating opportunities to improve health and well-being among older residents. However, developing inclusive and supportive agefriendly environments remains a key gap for governance and public policy. Community-engaged citizen science recognises older adults as key stakeholders in designing and implementing age-friendly initiatives. The aim of this study was to employ the Our Voice citizen science for healthy equity framework to engage older adults and community stakeholders to: a) identify local urban characteristics that influence active and healthy ageing, and b) co-produce recommendations to develop actionable urban changes.

Methods
Older adults (n = 17; Mean age= 72(7.5 SD); 11 women) and community stakeholders (n = 23; 14 women) in urban planning and ageing-well services were recruited from Birmingham, UK. Six online discussion groups (n = 16 older adults, 11 stakeholders), 12 Discovery Tool walks (n = 14 older adults), 3 in-person discussions (n = 12 older adults), 2 online individual discussions (n = 2 older adults) and 2 workshop events (n = 15 older adults, 17 stakeholders) were conducted. Audio transcripts and co-produced data were member checked and thematically analysed to identify urban barrier and facilitator themes and co-produce recommendations. Results A range of interconnected urban features were identified as influential of active and healthy ageing, including presence or absence of community facilities, suitable outdoor spaces, and the impact of Covid-19. Six collective and 12 individual recommendations were co-produced proposing feasible ways to enhance urban environments. These included public toilets schemes, maintenance of green and public spaces, car parking enforcement, provision of local information, and integrating communities across all ages.

Conclusion
Employing citizen science developed a network of older adults and stakeholders that shared local knowledge and experiences to co-produce a strong vision for shaping urban environments in Birmingham. This approach facilitated older adults to: drive research processes and solution-building; identify local urban influences; and advocate these findings to a network of actors who can disseminate and activate change in urban domains. To enhance citizen science further, increased time and resources to embed older adults into scientific processes, including data analysis and interpretation, is required.
ii84 European Journal of Public Health, Volume 32 Supplement 2, 2022