Abstract
Background: There is convincing evidence that increasing physical activity (PA) levels helps to ameliorate chronic disease and reduce the risk of falls in older people. However, evidence shows that older people rarely remain physically active after they have completed PA programmes. This review identifies which intervention components work best to help maintain PA in older adults.
Methods: Randomised and non-randomised controlled trials and con- trolled before-and-after studies assessing interventions for maintaining PA in people aged 65 years and older, published from 2010-2017, were identified from bibliographic databases and hand searching. Two researchers independently assessed for eligibility, extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Only studies that assessed community-dwelling older adults were included. Study characteristics, intervention strategies features and delivery methods were synthesised narratively.
Results: The systematic search yielded 25,761 publications and 19 studiesmet the inclusion criteria. There was considerable heterogeneity between the studies and interventions delivered. Of the nineteen studies, thirteen reported significant increases in PA outcomes between 9-36 months after the onset of interventions. Interventions delivered on a monthly, or quarterly basis over an intervention period of 6 months-2 years consistently showed significant effects on PA maintenance. Interventions were effective regardless delivery mode, setting, provider or whether delivered to groups or individuals. Providing pedometers, counselling and motivational interviewing helped to sustain PA increases.
Conclusion: PA maintenance programmes can help older adults stay active for up to 36 months. Intervention time periods and contact frequency appears to influence intervention effectiveness.
External funding details: National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research
Methods: Randomised and non-randomised controlled trials and con- trolled before-and-after studies assessing interventions for maintaining PA in people aged 65 years and older, published from 2010-2017, were identified from bibliographic databases and hand searching. Two researchers independently assessed for eligibility, extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Only studies that assessed community-dwelling older adults were included. Study characteristics, intervention strategies features and delivery methods were synthesised narratively.
Results: The systematic search yielded 25,761 publications and 19 studiesmet the inclusion criteria. There was considerable heterogeneity between the studies and interventions delivered. Of the nineteen studies, thirteen reported significant increases in PA outcomes between 9-36 months after the onset of interventions. Interventions delivered on a monthly, or quarterly basis over an intervention period of 6 months-2 years consistently showed significant effects on PA maintenance. Interventions were effective regardless delivery mode, setting, provider or whether delivered to groups or individuals. Providing pedometers, counselling and motivational interviewing helped to sustain PA increases.
Conclusion: PA maintenance programmes can help older adults stay active for up to 36 months. Intervention time periods and contact frequency appears to influence intervention effectiveness.
External funding details: National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | S131-S131 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Journal of Physical Activity and Health |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | s1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | 7th International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress - London, United Kingdom Duration: 15 Oct 2018 → 17 Oct 2018 https://ispah.org/congress-history/london-2018/ |