ArticleBMC public health2022
The impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on physical activity amongst older adults: evidence from longitudinal data in the UK.
Article in BMC public health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
30 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 56 citations in OpenAlex.
- The effectiveness and acceptability of physical activity interventions amongst older adults with lower socioeconomic status: a mixed methods systematic review.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2024Pooled it
- The effects of combining electrical stimulation of the calf and thigh muscles on WOMAC pain in knee osteoarthritis: A double-blind, randomised, sham-controlled trial.Osteoarthritis and cartilage open · 2025Trial
- A Web-Based Resilience-Enhancing Program to Improve Resilience, Physical Activity, and Well-being in Geriatric Population: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Trial
- Evolution of outdoor sports during the COVID-19 post-lockdown in Spain: a nationwide population-based study.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Physical activity, chronic disease, depression, and health-related quality of life among Chinese older adults: a two-wave longitudinal panel study before and during COVID-19.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Changes in Psychophysical Parameters in Seniors During the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Repeated Observational Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Article
- Physical activity during COVID-19 pandemic: A 5-year retrospect.Sports medicine and health science · 2025Review
- Exploring the acceptability of engaging in physical activity amongst older adults living in socioeconomically deprived areas after the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Health Consequences of COVID-19 Pandemic in Older Adults with Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Path Analysis Model.Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Mitigation of detraining effects: physical activity improves protein profile and physical function of aged amid COVID-19.BMC geriatrics · 2025Article
- Article
- The Dynamic Association Between Physical Activity and Psychological Symptoms in Young People With Major Depressive Disorder: An Active and Passive Sensing Longitudinal Cohort Study.Early intervention in psychiatry · 2025Article
- Changes in daily routines and health-related quality of life among Spanish older adults after the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis from a gender perspective.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- A national survey of current rehabilitation service provisions for people living with chronic kidney disease in the UK: implications for policy and practice.BMC nephrology · 2024Article
- More Adult Women than Men at High Cardiometabolic Risk Reported Worse Lifestyles and Self-Reported Health Status in the COVID-19 Lockdown.Nutrients · 2024Article
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital episodes for falls and fractures associated with new-onset disability and frailty in England: a national cohort study.Age and ageing · 2024Article
- Barriers to and Facilitators of Older People's Engagement With Web-Based Services: Qualitative Study of Adults Aged >75 Years.JMIR aging · 2024Article
- [Impact of COVID-19-related concerns and depression on hand-washing practice among community-dwelling older adults: a secondary analysis of the 2020 Korea Community Health Survey].Journal of Korean biological nursing science · 2024Article
- Association of physical activity with socio-economic status and chronic disease in older adults in China: cross-sectional findings from the survey of CLASS 2020 after the outbreak of COVID-19.BMC public health · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundA sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of adverse health outcomes and frailty,particularly for older adults. To reduce transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic, people were instructed to stay at home, group sports were suspended, and gyms were closed, thereby limiting opportunities for physical activity. Whilst evidence suggests that physical activity levels reduced during the pandemic, it is unclear whether the proportion of older adults realising the recommended minimum level of physical activity changed throughout the various stages of lockdown.
methodsWe used a large sample of 3,660 older adults (aged ≥ 65) who took part in the UK Household Longitudinal Study's annual and COVID-19 studies. We examined changes in the proportion of older adults who were realising the UK Chief Medical Officers' physical activity recommendations for health maintenance at several time points before and after COVID-19 lockdowns were imposed. We stratified these trends by the presence of health conditions, age, neighbourhood deprivation, and pre-pandemic activity levels.
resultsThere was a marked decline in older adults' physical activity levels during the third national lockdown in January 2021. The proportion realising the Chief Medical Officers' physical activity recommendations decreased from 43% in September 2020 to 33% in January 2021. This decrease in physical activity occurred regardless of health condition, age, neighbourhood deprivation, or pre-pandemic activity levels. Those doing the least activity pre-lockdown increased their activity during lockdowns and those doing the most decreased their activity levels.
conclusionsReductions in older adults' physical activity levels during COVID-19 lockdowns have put them at risk of becoming deconditioned and developing adverse health outcomes. Resources should be allocated to promote the uptake of physical activity in older adults to reverse the effects of deconditioning.
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