Green Environments and Healthy Aging: Analyzing the Role of Green Infrastructure in the Functional Well-Being of...

Health professionals have slowly integrated the environment and green areas into their prescriptions to connect patients with nature and outdoor activities. The World Health Organization recommends that everyone reside within 300 m of green regions to improve well-being and physical and mental health. The study aimed to explore the effects of urban and rural green areas on multiple physiological and functional variables, as well as evaluate the perception of individuals regarding the ease of use of these same spaces. Participants walked twice a week for six weeks, covering 1.6 km. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), oxygen saturation (SpO₂), physical capacity analysis (IPAQ), risk of falls (Morse Fall Scale), Mini Mental State Examination, physical performance test (PPT), and perception of accessibility (Pedestrian Accessibility Perception Scale for adults over 65 years old) were evaluated/administered. Variables such as noise, temperature, and air quality were also measured during the outdoor activities. Twenty-four individuals divided into two groups participated in the study: group 1 (urban route) and group 2 (rural route). We found impacts on body weight (p = 0.021), SpO₂ (p = 0.033), and Mini Mental State Examination (p = 0.041) scores in group 1 and SpO₂ and PPT scores in group 2. This study highlights the importance of incorporating green infrastructure in urban planning to support healthy aging and improve accessibility for older adults, and shows that outdoor activities provide various health benefits (physical, mental, and social well-being) and that walking in urban and rural environments seems to impact the health of elderly individuals positively and should be considered in physical therapy by health professionals.