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Background Physical inactivity is a global health concern, particularly among older adults, and restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic may have altered physical activity patterns and physical function. This study examined changes in physical function, physical activity, and aerobic capacity in older adults before and after the COVID-19 state of emergency in Japan. Methods Community-dwelling adults aged 55–89 years participated in this longitudinal study. Physical function (grip strength GS, one-leg balance OLB, five-times sit-to-stand STS-5, and timed up-and-go TUG), aerobic capacity (metabolic equivalents at the anaerobic threshold), and physical activity (daily step counts assessed by accelerometer) were measured in 2019 (before) and 2021 (after). Changes were analyzed using paired t-tests and age-adjusted repeated-measures analyses. Results Data from 23 participants (mean age 74.4 ± 6.1 years) were analyzed; aerobic capacity data were available for 19 participants. OLB time declined markedly from 70.5 ± 47.5 s to 20.6 ± 24.6 s (p < 0.001). TUG performance worsened from 6.0 ± 1.2 s to 6.5 ± 1.3 s (p = 0.017). Aerobic capacity decreased from 5.2 ± 1.0 to 4.7 ± 0.8 METs (p = 0.010). Mean daily step counts declined from 6,707 ± 2,743 to 5,779 ± 2,559 steps/day (p = 0.050). STS-5 showed no significant change, while GS showed a small but significant increase. Conclusions In this exercise-experienced cohort, two-year changes in physical function were heterogeneous and domain-specific. Declines in balance and aerobic capacity occurred alongside aging and substantial reductions in structured exercise opportunities, whereas strength-related measures were relatively preserved.
Takae et al. (Fri,) studied this question.