Moving as We Age: Effects of Physical Activity Programmes on Older Adults-An Umbrella Review

Background: This paper aims to conduct an umbrella review of the effects of physical activity programmes for older adults (aged 70 and above). Methods: Comprehensive literature searches were conducted in MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, PsychINFO, and Cochrane Library databases for English SRs. Inclusion criteria were systematic reviews that included randomised controlled trials examining physical activity interventions in older adults. The data extracted were participant characteristics, physical activity interventions, and outcomes examined. A synthesis of results was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines, and the quality of the studies was assessed using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR-2). Results: Ten systematic reviews on 186 research articles were included. The AMSTAR-2 revealed that 4 out of 10 reviews were of high quality and 1 out of 10 were of moderate quality. The study samples in each systematic review ranged from 6 to 1254 participants. The total overall sample size for the 10 included studies was 22,652 participants. Across the included reviews, there was mixed evidence on whether physical activity interventions could improve outcomes in older adults across various settings. Conclusions: Sample sizes and findings in each included systematic review varied. The findings of this review emphasise the importance of physical activity as a vital component in maintaining and enhancing health, as well as combating poor health as we age. It also highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the specific physical activity requirements for those aged 70 and above. Future systematic reviews may focus on streamlined reporting of dosing of physical activity and specific intervention types, such as group versus single.