In a nutshell: physical activity in EHPAD is no longer an option, it’s a necessity. Faced with HAS recommendations and increasing dependency, the EHPAD sport and health pathway offers a concrete response. Discover how to transform your outdoor spaces into real therapeutic tools.
Key figures :
- Over 60% of EHPAD residents suffer from severe physical deconditioning
- 50% of people over 80 fall at least once a year
- A fall resulting in hospitalization costs between €5,000 and €10,000
- 30 to 40% reduction in falls with an adapted physical activity program
Why the EHPAD sport and health pathway is essential in 2025
A sedentary lifestyle in EHPAD is now a major public health issue.
An alarming fact
According to Santé Publique France, more than 60% of EHPAD residents suffer from severe physical deconditioning. This sedentary lifestyle accelerates the loss of autonomy, with multiple consequences:
- Increased risk of falls (leading cause of accidental death among the elderly)
- Sarcopenia and loss of muscle mass
- Balance and coordination disorders
- Social isolation and depression
Reinforced recommendations
The French National Authority for Health (HAS) has strengthened its recommendations on adapted physical activity in nursing homes. The EHPAD sport-health pathway is a direct response to these regulatory requirements, while offering tangible benefits.
A triple challenge for EHPAD managers
Plant managers face three major challenges:
- Keeping residents independent for as long as possible
- Meeting families’ growing expectations in terms of quality of life
- Optimizing resources in a tight budgetary context
The EHPAD sport-health pathway provides a comprehensive response to these three challenges simultaneously.
The concrete benefits of an EHPAD sport and health program
For the physical health of residents
Adapted outdoor physical activity generates measurable health benefits for the elderly. Well-designed seniors’ fitness equipment enables you to work on all the motor skills essential to maintaining independence.
1. Falls prevention: issue no. 1
Preventing falls is the first benefit of an EHPAD sport and health program.
Figures that speak for themselves :
- 1 in 3 people over 65 falls at least once a year
- This figure rises to 50% after the age of 80
- Average cost of a fall with hospitalization: €5,000 to €10,000
A well-designed sport and health pathway addresses three key factors in the prevention of falls:
- Static and dynamic balance
- Proprioception (perception of the body in space)
- Lower limb muscle strength
2. Strengthening muscles: fighting sarcopenia
Muscle strengthening is crucial to maintaining independence.
Good to know: After the age of 50, we naturally lose 1 to 2% of muscle mass per year. This phenomenon, known as sarcopenia, accelerates sharply with inactivity.
Adapted outdoor fitness equipment offers gentle resistance training, ideal for maintaining muscle tone without the risk of injury. Exercises on seated rowing machines, adapted elliptical bikes or parallel bars involve all muscle groups, while respecting individual abilities.
3. Joint mobility: preserving everyday gestures
Joint mobility also benefits from the regular use of an EHPAD sport and health trail.
Movements of controlled amplitude on the various apparatus enable :
- Combating joint stiffening
- Preserving flexibility
- Maintain functional abilities for essential gestures (getting up, getting dressed, climbing stairs)
4. Cardiorespiratory function: building endurance
Even at low intensity, regular physical activity improves endurance and reduces breathlessness during daily exertion.
A simple walking circuit with exercise stations gently stimulates the cardiovascular system, gradually improving breathing capacity and exercise tolerance.
For psychological and social well-being
In addition to the physical benefits, the EHPAD sport and health program plays a fundamental role in the psychological well-being of residents.
Key figure: Depression affects almost 30% of institutionalized elderly people. Physical activity is a non-drug treatment recognized by the scientific community.
The benefits of natural exposure
Exposure to natural light during outdoor sessions brings multiple benefits:
✓ Vitamin D: natural production essential for morale and the immune system
✓ Circadian rhythm: regulation of the sleep-wake cycle (a problem affecting over 50% of residents)
✓ Sensory stimulation: contact with nature, change of environment
Autonomy and self-esteem
The feeling of autonomy and control over one’s body is reinforced by the practice of adapted physical activity.
In contrast to passive care, the use of an EHPAD sport-health pathway places the resident in an active position. This is essential for :
- Combating feelings of uselessness
- Maintaining self-esteem
- Making the most of residual capacity
- Giving meaning to everyday life
Social ties and integration
The social dimension is too often underestimated.
An outdoor walkway becomes a place for residents to meet and exchange ideas, breaking the isolation often experienced in their rooms. The benefits are manifold:
- Supervised group activities creating social ties
- Conviviality and mutual support among participants
- Intergenerational sessions during family visits
- Valuing progress in front of family and friends
Some facilities even organize adapted “mini-olympics” or family outings, creating precious moments of sharing between residents and their loved ones.
For the plant and staff
The installation of an EHPAD health and fitness trail also represents a strategic investment for the facility.
Meeting regulatory requirements
From a regulatory point of view, the pathway meets the HAS evaluation criteria concerning :
- Preventing loss of independence
- Promoting social life
- The quality of the proposed life project
These criteria have a direct impact on the reputation of the establishment and influence families’ decisions when choosing an EHPAD.
A differentiating selling point
Commercial attractiveness is a major issue in a competitive sector.
Families visit an average of 3 to 4 establishments before making their choice. A sports and health trail visible from the reception area sends out a strong signal about :
- The quality of the proposed life project
- A modern facility
- Attention to residents’ well-being
- Innovation and differentiation
This is a decisive argument against establishments that only offer indoor activities.
A tool for nursing staff
For staff, the EHPAD sport and health course is a valuable additional working tool:
For activity leaders: enriching the range of activities on offer and diversifying approaches
For physiotherapists: a complementary tool to classroom sessions, enabling functional work in real-life situations
For everyone: several plants report that staff use the equipment during their breaks, contributing to their own well-being at work.
How to design an adapted EHPAD sport and health program
Essential equipment for seniors
The success of an EHPAD health and fitness program depends on the choice of senior fitness equipment specifically designed for the elderly.
The key word: adaptation
Adjustable heights – Ergonomic grips – Gentle resistance – Maximum safety
The 5 must-have pieces of equipment
1. The Sport Santé Senior/PMR Ramp – The essential basic equipment
Outdoor fitness equipment specially designed to improve balance and coordination with stable, secure support.
Benefits for your residents:
- Assisted walking, a fundamental exercise for maintaining mobility
- Stable stand with non-slip surface
- Accessible to people with walkers
- Ideal for post-hospital rehabilitation
Technical data: ✓ Powder-coated galvanized steel
✓ Certified to EN16630:2015
✓ 5-year warranty
✓ PMR-suitable
2. Station Bras Sport Santé Senior/PMR – Upper limb strengthening
Outdoor sports apparatus that strengthens shoulders and arms, improves mobility and coordination.
Why this equipment is essential:
- Maintaining upper limb strength (crucial for daily independence)
- Work on hand-eye coordination
- Improved shoulder and arm mobility
- Can be used in sitting or standing position
Highlights: ✓ Gentle, progressive movements
✓ Accessible from wheelchair
✓ Stimulates blood circulation
✓ Prevents arm muscle loss
3. Balance beam – Fall prevention
The balance beam enhances balance and coordination thanks to its sturdy structure and appropriate support.
Direct impact on safety :
- Work on dynamic balance (primary factor in preventing falls)
- Improved proprioception
- Boosting self-confidence on the move
- Progressive exercises from easy to advanced
Important reminder: Balance is the #1 factor in preventing falls. Investing in this equipment means investing in the safety of your residents.
Special features: ✓ Stable structure with side supports
✓ Safe height
✓ Cushioning floor recommended around
✓ EN16630:2015 certification
4. Sport Santé Senior/PMR hurdles – Motor skills and coordination
Hurdle jumping for seniors enhances motor skills through safe, progressive training.
Concrete functional benefits :
- Improved obstacle clearance (kerbs, door thresholds)
- Strengthening leg-pelvis coordination
- Stimulation of hip and knee mobility
- Preventing tripping hazards
Practical use:
- Progressive heights to suit all abilities
- A fun exercise that motivates residents
- Can be used with or without the help of an attendant
- Concrete measurement of progress over time
5. Sit-Stand Sport Santé Senior/PMR – Functional autonomy
Ergonomic, safe equipment that boosts the strength and coordination essential to everyday life.
The most functional exercise for autonomy:
- Reproduces the movement of getting up from a chair (everyday gesture)
- Strengthens thighs, buttocks and stabilizing muscles
- Improves independence for transfers (bed to wheelchair, car, etc.)
- Benchmark test to measure progress (number of repetitions in 30 seconds)
Impact on home care: The ability to get up from a chair on one’s own is a key indicator of independence. Working on this exercise regularly will help maintain this vital ability for as long as possible.
Herkules advantages :
✓ Secure ergonomic support
✓ Height suitable for seniors
✓ Handholds
✓ Can be used by residents in GIR 3 to 6
Regulatory aspects and safety standards
An EHPAD health and fitness trail must comply with strict regulatory requirements to guarantee user safety.
🔒 The 4 essential regulatory obligations
1. European standard EN 16630 ⚠️ MANDATORY
This standard defines safety requirements for outdoor fitness equipment:
- Stability and strength of materials
- No sticking points
- Acceptable drop heights
- Load tests and durability
Essential verification: All equipment must bear the EN 16630 conformity mark.
2. PMR accessibility: in accordance with ERP regulations
Your itinerary is subject to the rules governing establishments open to the public:
- Adapted walkways (minimum width 1.40m)
- At least 50% of equipment wheelchair accessible
- Signage for the visually impaired
- Visual contrast for the visually impaired
3. Liability insurance: Update required
Actions to be taken :
- ✅ Inform your insurer of the course installation
- ✅ Check the specific coverage of this activity
- ✅ Provide certificates of conformity for equipment
- ✅ Transmit rules of use and supervision protocols
4. Rules of use 📜 Display and confirm
Rules must be drawn up, displayed and approved by the coordinating doctor:
Minimum contents :
- Obligation to supervise certain exercises
- Medical contraindications
- Basic safety instructions
- Emergency numbers
- Accident procedure
⚖️ Legal liability
As a facility manager, you may be held liable for any damage you cause. Compliance with these 5 regulatory obligations is your legal protection in the event of an incident.
Compliance is not an option, it’s a legal obligation.
Financing and return on investment for an EHPAD sport and health program
Budget and sources of financing
💰 Investment range
Total budget: €15,000 to €50,000
This budget includes :
- ✓ Equipment (EN 16630 approved fixtures)
- ✓ Installation and sealing
- ✓ Flooring and landscaping
- ✓ Signage and explanatory panels
- ✓ Initial staff training
The variation depends on the number of units, their range (galvanized or stainless steel), and the earthworks required.
Measurable economic benefits
Over and above the initial investment, an EHPAD sports and health trail generates tangible economic benefits that make the project profitable in the medium term.
💊 Direct measurable savings
1. Reducing waste = Substantial savings
Figures that count :
- Average cost of a fall with hospitalization: €7,000
- Average number of falls prevented per year (with prevention program): 3 to 5
- Potential annual savings: €21,000 to €35,000
Simple calculation: a €30,000 course can pay for itself by preventing just 4 or 5 falls with hospitalization in the first year.
Studies carried out in residential settings show a 30-40% reduction in falls among residents who regularly take part in adapted physical activities.
2. Reducing drug consumption
Several establishments that have set up physical activity programs have observed :
- Reduction of psychotropic drugs (anxiolytics, sleeping pills)
- Reduction in analgesics
- Improved morale reduces antidepressant prescriptions
Improved sleep and reduced chronic pain mean that certain treatments can be adjusted with the agreement of the coordinating physician.
Indirect benefits (equally important)
Commercial appeal
✓ O ptimized occupancy rate: a visible itinerary sets your establishment apart from the competition
✓ Reduced filling time: vacant spaces fill up faster
✓ Justified pricing: an argument for maintaining your rates in the face of competition
In a sector where families visit 3 to 4 establishments before choosing, this differentiator can represent several additional admissions per year.
Family satisfaction
Measurable satisfaction via surveys is reflected in :
- Positive word-of-mouth
- Fewer disputes
- Unsolicited recommendations
- Loyalty (if several residents from the same family)
Employee development
The teams have additional tools at their disposal and can see how residents are progressing:
- Reduced turnover (recruitment = 3 to 6 months’ salary)
- Reduced absenteeism
- Improving the social climate
- Enhanced employer appeal
🚀 Your project starts now
Our experts are at your disposal for :
- ✓ Visit your establishment for free
- ✓ Analyze your specific needs
- ✓ Solutions tailored to your budget
- ✓ Helping you find financing
📞 Contact us today
Ask for your free personalized study and discover how a health and fitness trail can transform the daily lives of your residents.
No obligation – Expert advice – Response within 24 hours
Together, let’s put movement at the heart of your residents’ life projects.
Your residents’ well-being deserves this investment. Their families will notice. Your team will feel valued.
