Physical activity in the elderly: the impact of the pandemic

Several studies suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted adapted physical activity programs for older people. On the one hand, the elderly have to stay at home because they run a high risk of infection; on the other hand, they must also avoid a sedentary lifestyle. The repercussions of inactivity are not serious for children and young adults, but they are much more serious in old age. The benefits of physical activity for the health of older people are widely documented. Physical activity reduces the risk of disease, helps maintain existing health conditions and also physical and mental function. For many elderly people, aging is defined precisely by the reduction of mobility, motor skills and functional independence. Physical inactivity is one of the main risk factors for overweight, obesity, non-communicable diseases and chronicity, and it also increases mortality from all causes. During home isolation it is more difficult to maintain adherence to recommended levels of exercise, especially for outdoor and group activities. A study published in the journal JMIR Aging, in collaboration with the French Federation of Physical Education and Voluntary Gymnastics (FFPEVG), showed that three months of sedentary behaviors produced a decline in functional physical fitness, mental health, quality of life, cardiorespiratory fitness and lipid, glycemic and hemodynamic profiles in elderly subjects who were physically active prior to the pandemic. There has probably been an increase in the percentage of the elderly population who are inactive and at risk of inactivity-related diseases. We need policies to support older people with physical activity at home and investment in socially distanced sports programs.