ArticleBMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation2024
Effect of physical activity for reducing anxiety symptoms in older adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Article in BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 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
18 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- A meta-analysis on the effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine Emotional Nursing in improving anxiety and depression symptoms in elderly patients.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Pooled it
- The effectiveness of exercise interventions on muscle strength and balance function in pre-frail older adults: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2025Pooled it
- Educational intervention for mental health and health behaviors in elderly Iranian women randomized controlled trial.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- Linking Physical Activity Motivation Regulation to Health Behavior Participation Among Korean Adults: The Mediating Role of Self-Regulation Strategies.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Effectiveness of mobile health interventions on physical activity management in frail older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity · 2026Review
- Mechanisms of exercise against anxiety disorder: A review of the research progress.Sports medicine and health science · 2026Review
- Do team sports have positive effects on anxiety levels and mood disorders? A systematic review protocol.Systematic reviews · 2026Article
- Generalized Isometric Sustained Contraction During Apnea Combined with Relaxation for Anxiety: A First Evaluation.Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health : CP & EMH · 2026Article
- Stress coping strategies in parents of children with central coordination disorders undergoing Vojta therapy: a two-month prospective observational study.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Fear of Falling, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults in Bangladesh: Prevalence, Correlates, and Mediation Pathways.Depression and anxiety · 2026Article
- Anxiety and depression among Moroccan radiographers working in radiotherapy.Environmental and occupational health practice · 2026Article
- Effectiveness and acceptability of exercise treatments for adults with anxiety disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.BMJ open sport & exercise medicine · 2026Article
- Consumption Patterns of Psychotropic Drugs Among Veterinary Medicine Students at the Federal University of Santa Maria.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Effect of Vojta Therapy on Stress and Emotional Well-Being in Parents of Children with Central Coordination Disorders.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2025Article
- Effect of Eight-Week Strength Training on Body Composition, Muscle Strength and Perceived Stress in Community-Dwelling Older Women.Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Evaluating the Effects of Sensorimotor Training on the Physical Capacities of Older People.European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education · 2025Article
- The interaction of physical activity and sleep quality with depression and anxiety in older adults.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Hierarchical clustering of the pre-exam anxiety levels in physically inactive and active adolescent students from 56 countries: an observational study using PISA program data.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAnxiety symptoms in older adults can significantly impact their well-being. Physical activity is increasingly recognized as a potential intervention to alleviate anxiety in this population. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the impact of physical activity on anxiety symptoms in geriatric individuals.
methodsA systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, and Embase databases until November 29, 2023. Two independent reviewers screened articles based on predefined inclusion criteria.
resultsEleven randomized controlled trials were included. These trials, involving 770 geriatric participants, demonstrated a significant overall effect of physical activity on reducing anxiety symptoms (SMD =-0.60, 95% CI: -0.88 to -0.32). Subgroup analysis based on type of intervention and duration of follow-up was performed. The results showed all types of exercises reduced anxiety symptoms compared to the control group. Furthermore, those studies with shorter follow-up (less than 10 weeks) did not show a statistically significant reduction in anxiety symptoms. Moderate heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 67%). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the overall effect size. Funnel plot inspection and Egger's test (p = 0.36) suggested no signs of publication bias or small study effects.
conclusionThis meta-analysis provides strong evidence that physical activity significantly reduces anxiety symptoms in older adults. The study highlights the differential effects of cardio and strength exercises and underscores the high quality of evidence supporting the anxiolytic benefits of physical activity in geriatric populations.
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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.