Exercise interventions for older adults: A systematic review of meta-analyses
Background: The evidence concerning which physical exercise characteristics are most effective for older adults is fragmented. We aimed to characterize the extent of this diversity and inconsistency and identify future directions for research by undertaking a systematic review of meta-analyses of ex...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Sport and Health Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254620300697 |
| _version_ | 1818877711174598656 |
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| author | Claudio Di Lorito Annabelle Long Adrian Byrne Rowan H. Harwood John R.F. Gladman Stefan Schneider Pip Logan Alessandro Bosco Veronika van der Wardt |
| author_facet | Claudio Di Lorito Annabelle Long Adrian Byrne Rowan H. Harwood John R.F. Gladman Stefan Schneider Pip Logan Alessandro Bosco Veronika van der Wardt |
| author_sort | Claudio Di Lorito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The evidence concerning which physical exercise characteristics are most effective for older adults is fragmented. We aimed to characterize the extent of this diversity and inconsistency and identify future directions for research by undertaking a systematic review of meta-analyses of exercise interventions in older adults. Methods: We searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycInfo, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science for articles that met the following criteria: (1) meta-analyses that synthesized measures of improvement (e.g., effect sizes) on any outcome identified in studies of exercise interventions; (2) participants in the studies meta-analyzed were adults aged 65+ or had a mean age of 70+; (3) meta-analyses that included studies of any type of exercise, including its duration, frequency, intensity, and mode of delivery; (4) interventions that included multiple components (e.g., exercise and cognitive stimulation), with effect sizes that were computed separately for the exercise component; and (5) meta-analyses that were published in any year or language. The characteristics of the reviews, of the interventions, and of the parameters improved through exercise were reported through narrative synthesis. Identification of the interventions linked to the largest improvements was carried out by identifying the highest values for improvement recorded across the reviews. The study included 56 meta-analyses that were heterogeneous in relation to population, sample size, settings, outcomes, and intervention characteristics. Results: The largest effect sizes for improvement were found for resistance training, meditative movement interventions, and exercise-based active videogames. Conclusion: The review identified important gaps in research, including a lack of studies investigating the benefits of group interventions, the characteristics of professionals delivering the interventions associated with better outcomes, and the impact of motivational strategies and of significant others (e.g., carers) on intervention delivery and outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T14:02:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5ddfe20982e04263b26239e73df42469 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2095-2546 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T14:02:37Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Sport and Health Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-5ddfe20982e04263b26239e73df424692022-12-21T20:18:24ZengElsevierJournal of Sport and Health Science2095-25462021-01-011012947Exercise interventions for older adults: A systematic review of meta-analysesClaudio Di Lorito0Annabelle Long1Adrian Byrne2Rowan H. Harwood3John R.F. Gladman4Stefan Schneider5Pip Logan6Alessandro Bosco7Veronika van der Wardt8Division of Rehabilitation, Ageing, and Wellbeing, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; Corresponding author.Division of Rehabilitation, Ageing, and Wellbeing, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UKDivision of Rehabilitation, Ageing, and Wellbeing, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UKDivision of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UKDivision of Rehabilitation, Ageing, and Wellbeing, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UKInstitute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University, Cologne 50933, GermanyDivision of Rehabilitation, Ageing, and Wellbeing, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UKDivision of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UKCenter for Methodology and Health Research, Department of General Medicine, Preventive and Rehabilitative Medicine, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg 35032, GermanyBackground: The evidence concerning which physical exercise characteristics are most effective for older adults is fragmented. We aimed to characterize the extent of this diversity and inconsistency and identify future directions for research by undertaking a systematic review of meta-analyses of exercise interventions in older adults. Methods: We searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycInfo, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science for articles that met the following criteria: (1) meta-analyses that synthesized measures of improvement (e.g., effect sizes) on any outcome identified in studies of exercise interventions; (2) participants in the studies meta-analyzed were adults aged 65+ or had a mean age of 70+; (3) meta-analyses that included studies of any type of exercise, including its duration, frequency, intensity, and mode of delivery; (4) interventions that included multiple components (e.g., exercise and cognitive stimulation), with effect sizes that were computed separately for the exercise component; and (5) meta-analyses that were published in any year or language. The characteristics of the reviews, of the interventions, and of the parameters improved through exercise were reported through narrative synthesis. Identification of the interventions linked to the largest improvements was carried out by identifying the highest values for improvement recorded across the reviews. The study included 56 meta-analyses that were heterogeneous in relation to population, sample size, settings, outcomes, and intervention characteristics. Results: The largest effect sizes for improvement were found for resistance training, meditative movement interventions, and exercise-based active videogames. Conclusion: The review identified important gaps in research, including a lack of studies investigating the benefits of group interventions, the characteristics of professionals delivering the interventions associated with better outcomes, and the impact of motivational strategies and of significant others (e.g., carers) on intervention delivery and outcomes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254620300697InterventionMeta-analysesOldPhysical exerciseSystematic review |
| spellingShingle | Claudio Di Lorito Annabelle Long Adrian Byrne Rowan H. Harwood John R.F. Gladman Stefan Schneider Pip Logan Alessandro Bosco Veronika van der Wardt Exercise interventions for older adults: A systematic review of meta-analyses Journal of Sport and Health Science Intervention Meta-analyses Old Physical exercise Systematic review |
| title | Exercise interventions for older adults: A systematic review of meta-analyses |
| title_full | Exercise interventions for older adults: A systematic review of meta-analyses |
| title_fullStr | Exercise interventions for older adults: A systematic review of meta-analyses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exercise interventions for older adults: A systematic review of meta-analyses |
| title_short | Exercise interventions for older adults: A systematic review of meta-analyses |
| title_sort | exercise interventions for older adults a systematic review of meta analyses |
| topic | Intervention Meta-analyses Old Physical exercise Systematic review |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254620300697 |
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