Exercise improves long-term social and behavioral rhythms in older adults: Did it play a role during the COVID-19 lockdown?

• Main Authors: Giulia Cossu, Cesar Ivan Abbile Gonzalez, Luigi Minerba, Roberto Demontis, Massimiliano Pau, Fernanda Velluzzi, Caterina Ferreli, Laura Atzori, Sergio Machado, Dario Fortin, Ferdinando Romano, Mauro Giovanni Carta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PAGEPress Publications 2021-08-01
• Series: Journal of Public Health Research
• Subjects: exercise; social behavioral rhythms; older adults; covid-19 lockdown
• Online Access: https://www.jphres.org/index.php/jphres/article/view/2432
• ISSN: 2279-9028; 2279-9036

The study aimed to verify whether exercise training in older adults can improve social behavioral rhythms (SBR) and if any modification is maintained over time. Older adults (n=120) from a previous randomized controlled trial, were randomly allocated to either a moderate-intensity exercise group or a control group. SBR was evaluated at t0, t26, and t48 weeks (during the COVID-19 lockdown), using the brief social rhythms scale (BSRS). Seventy-nine participants completed the follow-up (age 72.3±4.7, women 55.3%). An improvement in the BSRS score was found in the exercise group at 26 weeks (p=0.035) when the exercise program was concluded, and it was maintained at 48 weeks (p=0.013). No improvements were observed in the control group. To conclude, SBR, previously found as a resilience factor in older adults during COVID-19, appear to improve after a moderate 12 weeks exercise program, and the improvement persisted even after stopping exercise during the COVID-19 lockdown.