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Physical Activity Programmes for the Elderly and Their Health Implications

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 48007

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Laura Coll-Planas

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Guest Editor

SITLESS Consortium. Fundació Salut i Envelliment (Foundation on Health and Ageing)- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 171 E-08041, Barcelona, Spain.
Interests: ageing; complex interventions; loneliness; social capital; health promotion; process evaluation

Dr. Sebastià Mas-Alos

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Guest Editor

National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC), University of Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain
Interests: health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA); exercise training; exercise prescription; fitness testing; feasibility studies

Dr. Nicole Blackburn

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Guest Editor

School of Health Sciences, Ulster University, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, Northern Ireland
Interests: physical activity; sedentary behaviour; exercise rehabilitation; interventions; public health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Cristina Godinho

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Guest Editor

Católica Research Centre for Psychological - Family and Social Wellbeing, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, National Program for the Promotion of Physical Activity, Directorate-General of Health, Portugal

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Physical activity is among the most successful behaviours to promote health in the process of ageing. Remarkably, the impact of physical activity goes beyond the physical dimension of health, also providing benefits at psychological and social level, which are key aspects for the wellbeing of older people. Moreover, physical activity is the most effective intervention to recover, maintain or decrease the loss of functioning and reduce the consequences of frailty, such as age-related disability, falls, institutionalisation and mortality. Accordingly, a wide variety of physical activity programmes have been designed, implemented and tested, targeting a diversity of older populations: community-dwelling older people, nursing home residents, older people with specific chronic conditions (e.g., dementia, mobility-disability). However, generating evidence on physical activity programmes faces several challenges, such as considering the relevance of the process when interpreting the impact. Many of those challenges can be approached with the evaluation framework of complex interventions. Last but not least, physical activity programmes, as well as physical activity as a behavior, are highly influenced by social determinants of health.

Therefore, this Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on novel approaches in the design, implementation and evaluation of physical activity programmes targeting older people while considering their health in its biopsychosocial dimension and the social determinants of health. Researchers are invited to contribute beyond state-of the art work to be considered for publication, including original articles based on qualitative methods, longitudinal designs, natural experiments and controlled trials, short communications, systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Dr. Laura Coll-Planas
Prof. Dr. Sebastià Mas-Alos
Dr. Nicole Blackburn
Dr. Cristina Godinho
Guest Editors

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Keywords

physical activity
ageing
frailty
nursing home
complex interventions
process evaluation
implementation research
intervention

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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11 pages, 821 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Functional Training on Sarcopenia in Elderly Women in the Presence or Absence of ACE Inhibitors

by Marianna Mile, László Balogh, Gábor Papp, József Márton Pucsok, Krisztina Szabó, Lilla Barna, Zoltán Csiki and István Lekli

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6594; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126594 - 19 Jun 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3255

Abstract

Sarcopenia, defined as loss of muscle mass and strength, develops gradually with aging or after chronic disease. Efforts are ongoing to identify the best interventions that can slow down or stop sarcopenia. Nutrition-based interventions and exercise therapy may be beneficial; however, pharmacotherapy also could play a role. The effect of ACE inhibitors on physical performance is controversial. The present study investigates the impact of functional training on sarcopenia in the presence or absence of ACEi in elderly females. A total of 35 women over 65 years of age were selected for two groups on the basis that they were taking ACEi (n = 18) or not (n = 17). All subjects conducted a training program two times a week for 6 months. We examined various factors related to sarcopenia. After completing the short physical performance battery (SPPB) test, we found a significant improvement after 6 months of functional training. SPPB values of the ACEi group were significantly lower at the beginning of the study; however, we observed no difference between the SPPB results of the two groups after the training period. We conducted further studies to measure posture and spine mobility. Our Schober and Cobra test results revealed significantly improved spine mobility (both flexor and extensor) in both groups after 6 months of training. Furthermore, the grip strength of the hands, studied by an electric dynamometer, was significantly improved in both groups at the end of the training period. Our results indicated that functional training may improve body composition and muscle strength in patients diagnosed with sarcopenia. Furthermore, ACEi may be a helpful additional therapy in older adult patients suffering from severe sarcopenia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity Programmes for the Elderly and Their Health Implications)

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13 pages, 1175 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Multi-Domain Group-Based Intervention to Promote Physical Activity, Healthy Nutrition, and Psychological Wellbeing in Older People with Losses in Intrinsic Capacity: AMICOPE Development Study

by Sergi Blancafort Alias, César Cuevas-Lara, Nicolás Martínez-Velilla, Fabricio Zambom-Ferraresi, Maria Eugenia Soto, Neda Tavassoli, Céline Mathieu, Eva Heras Muxella, Pablo Garibaldi, Maria Anglada, Jordi Amblàs, Sebastià Santaeugènia, Joan Carles Contel, Àlex Domingo and Antoni Salvà Casanovas

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5979; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115979 - 2 Jun 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 7561

Abstract

The World Health Organization has developed the Integrated Care of Older People (ICOPE) strategy, a program based on the measurement of intrinsic capacity (IC) as “the composite of all physical and mental attributes on which an individual can draw”. Multicomponent interventions appear to be the most effective approach to enhance IC and to prevent frailty and disability since adapted physical activity is the preventive intervention that has shown the most evidence in the treatment of frailty and risk of falls. Our paper describes the development of a multi-domain group-based intervention addressed to older people living in the community, aimed at improving and/or maintaining intrinsic capacity by means of promoting physical activity, healthy nutrition, and psychological wellbeing in older people. The process of intervention development is described following the Guidance for reporting intervention development studies in health research (GUIDED). The result of this study is the AMICOPE intervention (Aptitude Multi-domain group-based intervention to improve and/or maintain IC in Older PEople) built upon the ICOPE framework and described following the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) guidelines. The intervention consists of 12 face-to-face sessions held weekly for 2.5 h over three months and facilitated by a pair of health and social care professionals. This study represents the first stage of the UK Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating a complex intervention. The next step should be carrying out a feasibility study for the AMICOPE intervention and, at a later stage, assessing the effectiveness in a randomized controlled trial. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity Programmes for the Elderly and Their Health Implications)

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10 pages, 1214 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Good Practices in Community-Based Interventions for Physical Activity Promotion: Development of a User-Friendly Tool

by Sofia Franco, Cristina Godinho, Catarina Santos Silva, Bruno Avelar-Rosa, Rute Santos, Romeu Mendes and Marlene Nunes Silva

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4734; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094734 - 29 Apr 2021

Viewed by 3139

Abstract

Tools to identify good practices in the design, implementation, and evaluation of physical activity community-based interventions (PACIs) are key to address the physical inactivity pandemic. Existing tools tend to be extensive and with limited applicability to assess small-scale PACIs. This work aimed to report the development and preliminary validity results of a simple, practical, and user-friendly tool to evaluate PACIs in local/municipal contexts. Eighty-six good practice characteristics defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint Action Framework on Chronic Diseases (CHRODIS), and an umbrella review of good practice characteristics of diet and physical activity interventions were initially extracted and refined in four rounds of revision from an expert panel using a Delphi-type methodology and rated on their relative importance. A pilot application was conducted, and data on the tool usability and applicability were collected through three semi-structured interviews with specialists and coordinators of local/municipal PACIs. For preliminary validation, the refined tool was applied to five community-based programs mostly aimed at an elderly population. The final tool included thirty-four selected characteristics, with a brief explanation and practical examples for each, under three main sections: design, evaluation, and implementation. Each characteristic has a rating (i.e., somewhat important, highly important, mandatory) and a percentage weight. Preliminary validation of this tool pointed to an adequate evaluation of good practice characteristics of municipal PACIs in a reliable, practical, and user-friendly way. Given its adequacy, this tool can support the definition of quality standards for PACIs, encouraging their dissemination and adoption at a regional or national level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity Programmes for the Elderly and Their Health Implications)

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16 pages, 357 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Older Adults’ Experiences of a Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Intervention: A Nested Qualitative Study in the SITLESS Multi-Country Randomised Clinical Trial

by Nicole E. Blackburn, Mathias Skjodt, Mark A. Tully, Ilona Mc Mullan, Maria Giné-Garriga, Paolo Caserotti, Sergi Blancafort, Marta Santiago, Sara Rodriguez-Garrido, Gudrun Weinmayr, Ulrike John-Köhler, Katharina Wirth, Javier Jerez-Roig, Dhayana Dallmeier, Jason J. Wilson, Manuela Deidda, Emma McIntosh, Laura Coll-Planas and on behalf of the SITLESS Group

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4730; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094730 - 29 Apr 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4788

Abstract

Background: The SITLESS programme comprises exercise referral schemes and self-management strategies and has been evaluated in a trial in Denmark, Spain, Germany and Northern Ireland. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand the implementation and contextual aspects of the intervention in relation to the mechanisms of impact and to explore the perceived effects. Methods: Qualitative methodologies were nested in the SITLESS trial including 71 individual interviews and 12 focus groups targeting intervention and control group participants from postintervention to 18-month follow-up in all intervention sites based on a semi-structured topic guide. Results: Overarching themes were identified under the framework categories of context, implementation, mechanisms of impact and perceived effects. The findings highlight the perceived barriers and facilitators to older adults’ engagement in exercise referral schemes. Social interaction and enjoyment through the group-based programmes are key components to promote adherence and encourage the maintenance of targeted behaviours through peer support and connectedness. Exit strategies and signposting to relevant classes and facilities enabled the maintenance of positive lifestyle behaviours. Conclusions: When designing and implementing interventions, key components enhancing social interaction, enjoyment and continuity should be in place in order to successfully promote sustained behaviour change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity Programmes for the Elderly and Their Health Implications)

18 pages, 1234 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feasibility Assessment of the Let’s Walk Programme (CAMINEM): Exercise Training and Health Promotion in Primary Health-Care Settings

by Sebastià Mas-Alòs, Antoni Planas-Anzano, Xavier Peirau-Terés, Jordi Real-Gatius and Gisela Galindo-Ortego

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 3192; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063192 - 19 Mar 2021

Viewed by 2963

Abstract

Exercise is related to many individual health outcomes but impact evaluations of exercise programmes are seldom conducted. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of an exercise prescription intervention in primary health-care settings (CAMINEM Programme) located in two socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The CAMINEM was a pragmatic-driven intervention with opportunistic recruitment. It followed the 5As framework for health promotion and also the exercise training principles. Feasibility was evaluated using the RE-AIM framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance). Patients with non-communicable chronic diseases participated in a 12-month home-based moderate-intensity exercise program, counselled by exercise physiologists. Participants were grouped according to their physical activity behaviour at baseline and 6-month adherence. CAMINEM reached 1.49% (n = 229) of the eligible population (N = 15374) and included a final sample of 178. Health outcomes for adhered participants followed positive patterns. Non-adhered participants visited their practitioner more compared to adhered participants. Thirty-three practitioners (40%) referred patients. Nurses referred four times more than physicians (81% and 19% respectively). The delivery of exercise prescriptions proved to be easy to complete and record by participants as well as easy to monitor and adjust by the exercise physiologists. One out of four participants adhered during the 12-month intervention. This intervention has been feasible in primary care in Catalonia, Spain, to safely prescribe home-based exercise for several conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity Programmes for the Elderly and Their Health Implications)

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12 pages, 1059 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Moderate Combined Resistance- and Aerobic-Exercise for 12 Weeks on Body Composition, Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, Blood Pressure, Arterial Stiffness, and Physical Functions, among Obese Older Men: A Pilot Study

by Wonil Park, Won-Sang Jung, Kwangseok Hong, Yae-Young Kim, Sung-Woo Kim and Hun-Young Park

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(19), 7233; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197233 - 3 Oct 2020

Cited by 58 | Viewed by 10203

Abstract

We demonstrated the hypothesis that combined exercise improves body composition, cardiometabolic risk factors, blood pressure (BP), arterial stiffness, and physical functions, in obese older men. Older men (n = 20) were randomly assigned to combined exercise training (EXP; n = 10) or control groups (CON; n = 10). The combined exercise was comprised of elastic-band resistance training and walking/running on a treadmill and bicycle at 60–70% of maximal heart rate for 3 days/weeks. EXP showed significant decreases in body weight, body mass index, and %body fat (p < 0.05). The exercise program significantly reduced BP, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. Furthermore, while the plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and epinephrine were significantly reduced in EXP, VO₂ peak and grip strength were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it is indicated that 12-week regular combined exercise improves body composition, cardiometabolic risk factors, hemodynamics, and physical performance in obese older men. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity Programmes for the Elderly and Their Health Implications)

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3 pages, 294 KiB

Open AccessReply

Reply to Inzitari et al. Comment on “Blancafort Alias et al. A Multi-Domain Group-Based Intervention to Promote Physical Activity, Healthy Nutrition, and Psychological Wellbeing in Older People with Losses in Intrinsic Capacity: AMICOPE Development Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 5979”

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(2), 889; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020889 - 14 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1747

Abstract

This is a reply to the comment by Inzitari et al [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity Programmes for the Elderly and Their Health Implications)

3 pages, 285 KiB

Open AccessComment

Comment on Blancafort Alias et al. A Multi-Domain Group-Based Intervention to Promote Physical Activity, Healthy Nutrition, and Psychological Wellbeing in Older People with Losses in Intrinsic Capacity: AMICOPE Development Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 5979

by Marco Inzitari, Laura Mónica Pérez, Lorena Villa-García and Matteo Cesari

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(2), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020860 - 13 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2231

Abstract

We read with interest the article by Blancafort et al. [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity Programmes for the Elderly and Their Health Implications)

34 pages, 1628 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

The Association of Physical (in)Activity with Mental Health. Differences between Elder and Younger Populations: A Systematic Literature Review

by Laia Maynou, Helena M. Hernández-Pizarro and María Errea Rodríguez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4771; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094771 - 29 Apr 2021

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 6648

Abstract

Background: Physical activity is associated with mental health benefits. This systematic literature review summarises extant evidence regarding this association, and explores differences observed between populations over sixty-five years and those younger than sixty-five. Methods: We reviewed articles and grey literature reporting at least one measure of physical activity and at least one mental disorder, in people of all ages. Results: From the 2263 abstracts screened, we extracted twenty-seven articles and synthesized the evidence regarding the association between physical (in)activity and one or more mental health outcome measures. We confirmed that physical activity is beneficial for mental health. However, the evidence was mostly based on self-reported physical activity and mental health measures. Only one study compared younger and elder populations, finding that increasing the level of physical activity improved mental health for middle aged and elder women (no association was observed for younger women). Studies including only the elderly found a restricted mental health improvement due to physical activity. Conclusions: We found inverse associations between levels of physical activity and mental health problems. However, more evidence regarding the effect of ageing when measuring associations between physical activity and mental health is needed. By doing so, prescription of physical activity could be more accurately targeted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity Programmes for the Elderly and Their Health Implications)

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11 pages, 975 KiB

Open AccessStudy Protocol

Impact of Spirulina maxima Intake and Exercise (SIE) on Metabolic and Fitness Parameters in Sedentary Older Adults with Excessive Body Mass: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial

by Marco Antonio Hernández-Lepe, José de Jesús Manríquez-Torres, Omar Ramos-Lopez, Aracely Serrano-Medina, Melinna Ortiz-Ortiz, Jorge Alberto Aburto-Corona, María del Pilar Pozos-Parra, Luis Eduardo Villalobos-Gallegos, Genaro Rodríguez-Uribe and Luis Mario Gómez-Miranda

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1605; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041605 - 8 Feb 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4115

Abstract

Life expectancy has increased unprecedentedly in recent decades, benefiting the longevity of the world’s population. The most frequent pathological conditions presented in this age group include excessive body fat, frailty, and hypercholesterolemia. These pathological characteristics condition general health and autonomy in adults to carry out their usual activities. In this sense, the search for a healthy lifestyle is necessary, consisting in a healthy diet that includes supplementation with nutraceuticals and the daily practice of physical activity. This study protocol aims to evaluate the independent and synergistic effect of 12 weeks of Spirulina maxima intake (5 g/day), with or without an exercise program on metabolic and fitness parameters of 52 sedentary older adults with excessive body mass in a double-blind, randomized, crossover, controlled trial design. The main findings from this trial will provide novel evidence for future interventions designed for the elderly population and the result will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and international meetings. ClinicalTrials.gov identification number: NCT04658875 (Effect of Spirulina maxima and Exercise on General Fitness and Blood Lipids in Older Adults). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity Programmes for the Elderly and Their Health Implications)

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