title: Health benefits of aerobic training programs in adults aged 70 and over: a systematic review.
abstract: Aging is intrinsically associated with a progressive decline in muscle strength and mass, and aerobic capacity. This contributes to reduced mobility and impaired quality of life (QoL) among seniors. Regular physical activity, and more particularly aerobic training (AT), has demonstrated benefits on adults' health. The aim of this review was to assess the current level of evidence regarding the health benefits of AT in the population aged 70 years and over. A comprehensive, systematic database search for manuscripts was performed. Two reviewers independently assessed interventional studies for potential inclusion. Cardiovascular, metabolic, functional, cognitive, and QoL outcomes were targeted. Fifty-three studies were included totalling 2051 seniors aged 70 years and over. Studies selected were divided into 5 categories according to their main outcomes: cardiovascular function (34 studies), metabolic outcomes (26 studies), functional fitness (19 studies), cognitive functions (8 studies), and QoL (3 studies). With a good level of evidence but a wide heterogeneity between study designs, a significant and beneficial effect of AT was measured on the 5 outcomes. For QoL results showed a significant but slighter improvement. This systematic review highlights the benefits of AT on seniors' health outcome such as cardiovascular, functional, metabolic, cognitive, and QoL outcomes although the optimal program remains unclear. When more studies regarding this specific population are needed to determine the most favourable exercise program, clinicians should nevertheless encourage older adults over 70 to participate in AT programs to favour active and healthy ageing.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Department, Medical school and University Hospitals of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Department of Physiology and EA-3072, Medical school, Strasbourg University, Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: walid.bouaziz.88@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bouaziz
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Department, Medical school and University Hospitals of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Department of Physiology and EA-3072, Medical school, Strasbourg University, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Department, Medical school and University Hospitals of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Department of Physiology and EA-3072, Medical school, Strasbourg University, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Department, Medical school and University Hospitals of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaltenbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and EA-3072, Medical school, Strasbourg University, Strasbourg, France; Functional Explorations Department, Medical school and University Hospitals of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Geny
authors.affiliation: Health and Wellbeing Academy, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Geriatric and Rehabilitation Geriatric Division, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Pierre Olivier
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Active aging; Aerobic training; Health benefits; Healthy aging; Older adults; Senior fitness