SynthesisAge and ageing2024
Barriers and motivators to undertaking physical activity in adults over 70-a systematic review of the quantitative literature.
Synthesis in Age and ageing, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 52 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
52 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effects and exercise-prescription moderators of Tai Chi on cardiometabolic risk factors in middle-aged and older women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine · 2026Pooled it
- Barriers to physical activity in women from ethnic minority groups: a systematic review.BMC women's health · 2025Pooled it
- A theory-driven exercise intervention to improve physical performance in community-dwelling older adults: a cluster randomized controlled trial delivered by general practitioners.BMC geriatrics · 2026Trial
- The ActivLife exergame rehabilitation program improves functional abilities in pre-frail and frail older adults: a clinical trial.Scientific reports · 2026Trial
- Trial
- Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Exercise Can Increase Exercise in Older Adults Living in the Community and in Long-Term Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Clinical interventions in aging · 2025Trial
- Perceived Exercise Barriers and Functional Health Among Older Chinese Women: The Roles of Physical Activity Participation and Community Sports Facility Accessibility.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Exercise Habits in Older Adults: A Scoping Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- The effect of dynamic and static norm messages on physical activity behaviours: Evidence from two experimental studies.Applied psychology. Health and well-being · 2026Article
- Functional fitness, perceived barriers and exercise health belief domains as correlates of physical activity in older adults attending a Third Age University: a cross-sectional study.BMC geriatrics · 2026Article
- Physical Activity, Cardiometabolic Health, and Functional Performance Across the Adult Lifespan: An Age-Stratified Real-World Primary Care Study.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Implementation of Enhance®Fitness: a scoping review using the RE-AIM framework.The Gerontologist · 2026Article
- How environmental health burdens shape physical activity patterns: age-specific evidence from OECD countries.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Shifting barriers to exercise in later life: increasing impact among the oldest-old.Physical activity and nutrition · 2026Article
- Risk factors for atypical femur fractures with and without bisphosphonate treatment: a national nested case-control study.JBMR plus · 2026Article
- What Keeps Older Adults Moving? An Analysis of Barriers and Motivation Across Different Exercise Settings.Journal of cross-cultural gerontology · 2026Article
- Impact of adherence to six-month home-based HIIT on cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Emotion Regulation Treatment to Enhance Active Aging in Older Adults with Affective Distress: A Pilot Study.Journal of contemporary psychotherapy · 2026Article
- Exploring the Predictors of Physical Activity in Older Adults in South Korea Using the Health Belief Model.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Designing an mHealth App to Encourage Uptake of Muscle-Strengthening Exercise in Older Adults: Co-Design Focus Group Study.JMIR aging · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPhysical activity (PA) has multiple benefits for older adults (≥70 years old). Despite this many older adults do not undertake the World Health Organisation guideline recommended amount of PA. This systematic review examines barriers and motivators to PA in adults aged ≥70 years.
methodsWe analysed the quantitative literature, including observational studies and baseline data from randomised controlled trials. Studies examining specific diseases (e.g. cognitive impairment), or care home residents were excluded. Database searches of ASSIA, CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science were undertaken on 7 March 2023. Quality assessment was performed using the ROBANS tool. We synthesised the results using the socioecological model. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021160503).
resultsWe identified 37 papers, n = 26,961, age 70-101 years (median 78), 62% female. We undertook a narrative review; meta-analysis was not possible. Overall risk of bias was low. A total of 23 studies addressed barriers, seven motivators, seven both. The most cited barriers were: concern about physical health/fitness (14 studies), lack of motivation/interest (13 studies), fear of falls/history of falling (11 studies) and environmental barriers (10 studies). Key motivators were: support from family/friends (five studies), social interaction (five studies), personal benefits (five studies) and outside facilities (five studies). Results varied across gender, age, functional ability and geographical location. DISCUSSION: To maximise PA in older adults, important modifiable factors identified in this review should be targeted: support from healthcare professionals; reducing fear of falls; and prioritising ease of access and safety of outdoor facilities. When considering future policy, a person-centred, age group appropriate approach will have the most impact.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.