Tech Your Way to Better Fitness: How Older Adults Are Using Digital Tools to Stay Active

Do you ever feel like technology and fitness exist in separate universes? Think again! Research shows that your smartphone, fitness tracker, or tablet might be the secret weapon in your exercise arsenal—especially as you navigate the joys and challenges of aging.

Digital Devices: Your Fitness Buddies in Disguise

Remember when pedometers were cutting-edge technology? Today’s digital tools go far beyond counting steps. From smartwatches that monitor your heart rate to apps that guide you through yoga poses, technology is transforming how we stay active.

A fascinating study from the University of Sydney looked at adults aged 70+ who successfully use technology to support physical activity. These tech-savvy seniors aren’t sitting around “in God’s waiting room” (as one 75-year-old participant colorfully put it)—they’re leveraging digital tools to stay fit, active, and engaged.

Four Lessons From Fitness-Tech Pioneers

The researchers identified four key lessons from these active older adults that you can apply to your own fitness journey:

1. Embrace Technology (Even if It Feels Intimidating)

Many participants initially described themselves as “luddites” or “technophobes.” One 81-year-old man admitted he “loathed” computers before becoming a convert who now experiences “withdrawal syndrome” when separated from his devices!

Try this: Start with one device or app that genuinely interests you. Maybe it’s tracking your daily walks with your phone or following a gentle yoga video on YouTube. Remember, you don’t need to master everything at once.

2. Find Your Thing

One 72-year-old woman shared how she avoided physical activity her entire life until discovering yoga. “You really just have to find your thing,” she explained.

Technology makes this easier by offering countless options right in your living room—without the intimidation factor of walking into a gym or class filled with strangers.

Try this: Sample different online classes until something clicks. If rolling around with a pool noodle leaves you thinking “that’s so painful, they’ve got to be kidding” (as one participant discovered), move on until you find activities that feel right for your body.

3. Be Adaptive

Life throws curveballs—whether it’s knee replacements, arthritis, or a global pandemic. The study participants were masters of adaptation, modifying exercises for their bodies and finding creative workarounds.

Try this: When faced with limitations, look for adaptations rather than giving up. If an online instructor suggests weights you don’t have, filled water bottles work beautifully (an actual tip from one resourceful participant).

4. Resist &Lsquo;Being Old’

There’s a powerful difference between “getting older” (an inevitable reality) and “being old” (a mindset of resignation). Study participants consistently refused to slide into stereotypical old age patterns.

Try this: Adopt a personal philosophy of active living like these gems from participants: “Keep active because if you sit still you ossify or die,” “If you don’t use it, you lose it,” or simply “Keep on keeping on.”

Technology as Your Gateway to Nature

Ironically, digital devices can actually deepen your connection with the natural world. Several participants described how technology motivated them to get outside more often—tracking walks, listening to audiobooks during hikes, or photographing nature.

As one 72-year-old woman explained, when you put on a story or music during your walk, “you just step it out and suddenly ‘Oh!’ you’re home…. It’s more enjoyable. I look forward to going for that walk to listen to some story.”

The Bottom Line: It’s Never Too Late

Whether you’re a digital native or still figuring out how to text, technology offers exciting opportunities to enhance your fitness journey. The study participants—ranging from 71 to 82 years old—demonstrate that embracing these tools can help you stay active, engaged, and, as one put it, “younger.”

So download that app, strap on that fitness tracker, or search for that online exercise class. Your body (and brain) will thank you for it.

Based on research by Abby Haynes, Heidi Gilchrist, Juliana Oliveira, Catherine Sherrington, and Anne Tiedemann published in “Physical Activity and Health” (2023). The study, titled “Avoiding God’s Waiting Room: Lessons from the Lived Experiences of Older People who Use Digital Technology to Support Physical Activity,” explored how adults 70+ use technology to enhance physical activity.