1 Choose exercise
Bicep Curl
Turn every rep into play. Choose easy-to-learn exercises that challenge the muscles you rely on every day.
TWO PROBLEMS, ONE BIRD.
Problem 1: When you see the words "strength training" and "cognitive training", you likely think of two very different scenarios. Believe it or not, age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) and cognitive decline are more closely linked than you think, so why train them separately? A solution is needed to target both cognitive and strength aspects simultaneously. Welcome to Dumbbell Bird.
Problem 2: While there are plenty of exercise programs for seniors in Singapore, few truly focus on strength training. Among those few, they are usually group-based with the majority of attendees being already fit. We also need to reach out to seniors who feel uncomfortable in group classes, lack confidence, or simply haven’t found exercise enjoyable. These seniors are the ones who could benefit most from strength training!
Dumbbell Bird provides seniors a unique way to do strength training: a more private and engaging platform where seniors can exercise at their own pace and schedule, with interactive games that brings each rep to life. The aim is simple: make strength training easier to start and more enjoyable to continue. Seniors control a bird through their exercise movements, taking on mini-games that challenge memory, coordination and reaction speed.
STRENGTH TRAINING,
MADE FUN AND SENIOR-FOCUSED
2 Choose game
Coin Bird
Give your muscles a mission and your mind a challenge. Explore games that test memory, reactions and more, with stages to suit different abilities.
3 Choose bird
Crimson Sunbird
Meet your workout wingmate! Pick your favourite bird and bring a little personality to every session.
YOU MOVE.
YOUR BIRD FOLLOWS.
Choose your exercise and weight.
Choose your exercise, weight, game, bird. That's really all there is.
Calibrate then play!
Calibrate the movement's start and end position (takes 10 seconds) then fly your way and enjoy the game!
Track your progress.
The game tracks multiple healthcare relevant metrics like SPARC (Spectral Arc Length) which has been studied in conditions including stroke and Parkinson's disease (Beck et. al., 2018).
Bottom positionTop position
In the exercise game, your movement moves the bird, not a slider.
MY GOAL:
MAKING EXERCISE
FUN FOR SENIORS!
8 photos. Use the previous and next buttons, the photo dots, or the left and right arrow keys. On a touch screen, swipe the photo. Selecting a photo pauses the slideshow.
Dumbbell Bird is made by Marcus, an NTU Sport Science and Management (SSM) undergraduate, during his last year of study. It's the fruit of his work in community strength training for seniors, something he’s been working on since late 2024 with programs such as Strength for Seniors (featured on Mothership) and Project Silver Strength at NTUC Health.
After years of conducting strength training sessions, he noticed that those who would benefit most from exercise were not joining because they found resistance training boring. Just because a strength training program is science-backed and effective, doesn't mean seniors would automatically enjoy and engage.
A new goal was born: Make strength training fun and safe for seniors.
We’re exploring that idea with centres, care teams and community programmes. One conversation, one session and one player at a time.
Find out more!
CURIOUS?
YOU’RE IN THE
RIGHT PLACE.
How does the game know I am moving?
A small wearable motion sensor tracks the movement used for the exercise and sends it to the game. Your calibrated movement is mapped to the bird’s position on screen.
How would the game suit eldercare organisations?
When it comes to seniors, few inherently like strength training. Some seniors do it in groups, while many shy away or don't even care. Dumbbell Bird provides a safe private space to engage one to two seniors at a time for those who are shy, and a fun interactive game for those who don't bother with strength training. Since this game can be run for an entire day, it inevitably helps more seniors because anyone can come train anytime! No fixed schedule, no hassle.
What equipment does a session use?
The exercise setup uses a wearable sensor, a computer with the Dumbbell Bird software, and suitable resistance equipment like dumbbells or ankle weights.
Is it designed for people who are new to exercise?
Yes! Dumbbell Bird is developed with seniors and sedentary beginners in mind. Movement range and game difficulty can be adjusted to suit a wide range of abilities.
Is Dumbbell Bird a medical treatment?
No, Dumbbell Bird is an exercise-game developed with sport science principles in mind, not a medical tool. While Dumbbell Bird collects valuable information such as movement smoothness which has been proven to be a strong biomarker for diseases affecting motor control like stroke or Parkinson's, it is currently not used for diagnosing or a treating a medical condition.
Can I explore a demonstration or pilot?
That is exactly the conversation we would love to have. Tell us about your setting, the people you support and what you would like to explore. A demonstration is an opportunity to discuss the setup, facilitation and whether a pilot makes sense for your programme.
LET’S MAKE THE NEXT MOVE.BRING A LITTLE
BRING A LITTLE
PLAY TO YOUR
PROGRAMME.
Running an Active Ageing Centre, community programme or care service? Let’s talk about a demonstration and what Dumbbell Bird could look like in your setting.