Interactive fitness program aims to improve well-being for seniors

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mary Leininger, 92, is an avid user of the Senso Think and Move machine. It’s an interactive fitness program that’s designed to promote physical and cognitive wellbeing.

Leininger says you learn a lot about yourself and how well you’re doing. While she said it’s fun, balancing both mental and physical skills can be challenging.

“It’s made me more conscious of weight shifting observation and my seeing everything the way I need to see it because you have to keep track and you have to move at the same time. And it can be kind of complicated,” said Leininger. 

The program forces participants to recognize a direction on a screen and then move their body accordingly. It incorporates both mental and physical aspects and also tracks their progress. At this point, the Dublin Retirement Village is the only facility in central Ohio that uses it.

“It allows our residents here in the community to work on balance with strength, but also reaction time and weight shifting, but then also adds a component of cognitive wellness as well,” Therapist Amanda Theobald said.

And while some of the residents have been using the program to help with issues they’re already seen develop, 79-year-old John Crumrine is taking a proactive approach.

“This is a very excellent machine that can help,” Crumrine said. “Senior citizens like myself are actively participate in an effort to eliminate or reduce falls.

And while the ultimate goal of the program is to keep seniors healthy, Leininger believes it does more than that.

“I think it’s an enjoyable way to learn about yourself,” Leininger said.