Stronger together: Breaking barriers to community strength training

Strength training is proven to be good for our mental and physical health, but fewer than 25% of us actually do it regularly, with studies finding many people aren’t aware that national and international physical activity guidelines strongly recommend all adults build strength on at least two days a week.

Researchers at the University of Salford set out to understand what might help people to take part in more regular strength training as part of their exercise routine. They found that there are various challenges which are currently preventing strength training programmes being offered by instructors in local community spaces like leisure centres – the main workforce responsible for delivering preventative exercise programmes for the general public.

The team worked with staff from three councils across Greater Manchester to understand the barriers and benefits they might face when planning to introduce a preventative strength training programme called STRONGER with AGE.

They found that some leisure centre managers had concerns about whether an extra programme on the class timetable could be covered with existing staff numbers, and instructors felt they didn’t have enough knowledge or skills to deliver strength training confidently.

Understanding these concerns enabled researchers to work on tailored solutions to more effectively prioritise prevention services and develop strategies for implementation, making it more likely that the programme can move beyond academic walls to be successfully adopted and sustained in community settings. The method used could be repeated elsewhere to help other programmes succeed too.

University Fellow Dr Ashley Gluchowski explained: “In my experience people often think they’re not young, fit, energetic, or active enough to start strength training. But research has found the opposite to be true. Starting strength training, at any age with any ability, leads to increased fitness, energy levels, and even spontaneous increases in physical activity.

“Understanding how to support community settings, like leisure centres, to deliver evidence-based programmes such as STRONGER with AGE means more people can start to benefit from accessing this essential type of training.”