Wednesday, Feb 26, 2025 • Brian Lopez : contact

For older adults, staying active isn’t just about fitness—it’s the key to a longer, healthier life. Yet barriers like fear of injury, chronic conditions and low energy often keep them from moving as much as they should. A new fitness app created by University of Texas at Arlington researchers aims to change that by making exercise safer, easier and more accessible.

The app, called SENIOR FIT, involved collaboration from researchers across a broad range of academic departments at UTA, and was funded by the Communities Foundation of Texas. The app is currently being deployed at select senior living communities in the state.

According to a 2024 report by the Texas Demographic Center, Texas has the third-highest population 50 years and older in the country and 19% of the state’s population is 60 and older.

“We wanted to develop a tool that is accessible, easy to use and provides exercises that can be done safely at home," said Kate Hyun, an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and lead researcher on the project. "SENIOR FIT offers customized workout plans that cater to different mobility levels, ensuring that older adults can incorporate movement into their daily routine regardless of their physical condition.”

Other contributors to the app’s development include Kathy Lee Siepker from the School of Social Work, Angela Liegey-Dougall from the College of Science, Christoph Csallner from the College of Engineering and Xiangli Gu from the College of Nursing and Health Innovation.

When designing the app, the team prioritized two key factors essential for healthy aging: muscle strength and regular physical activity. SENIOR FIT is tailored for older adults who may not have access to a gym or a walkable area, making it a practical fitness solution.

Once logged in, users select from a variety of exercises, ranging from more involved activities like yoga to simple movements such as sitting and standing.

"Our goal is to remove the barriers that often keep older adults from being active," Dr. Hyun said. "Even small movements can significantly improve strength, balance and overall well-being."

Gaining user trust, however, wasn’t always easy.

Hyun said that during the research process, introducing the app to older adults came with unexpected challenges. Many were concerned about privacy and how their data would be used. To address these concerns, the research team focused on incorporating user-friendly features and enhancing privacy controls, ensuring that SENIOR FIT felt both accessible and secure.

Next, the team plans to continue refining the app based on user feedback and expand its availability to reach more older adults on their smart phones wherever they are.