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  • Page | Last updated: 09 Apr 2021

Physical activity recommendations for older adults

Physical activity recommendations for older adults (≥ 65 years old) as described by health-related organisations

Source

Recommendation

WHO 2010
  • 'Older adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week or do at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity.'
  • 'Aerobic activity should be performed in bouts of at least 10 minutes duration.'
  • 'For additional health benefits, older adults should increase their moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity to 300 minutes per week, or engage in 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity per week, or an equivalent combination of moderate-and vigorous-intensity activity.'
  • 'Older adults, with poor mobility, should perform physical activity to enhance balance and prevent falls on 3 or more days per week.'
  • 'Muscle-strengthening activities, involving major muscle groups, should be done on 2 or more days a week.'
  • 'When older adults cannot do the recommended amounts of physical activity due to health conditions, they should be as physically active as their abilities and conditions allow.'
German Federal Ministry of Health 2016
  • 'To maintain and promote health comprehensively, the following minimum recommendations apply to older adults:
    • Older adults should have moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity for at least 150 minutes/week where possible (e.g. 5 x 30 minutes / week) or
    • at least 75 minutes/week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity or
    • aerobic physical activity in a corresponding combination of both intensiti
  • and should group the overall activity in at least 10-minute individual units distributed over days and weeks (e.g. at least 3 x 10 minutes/day or 5 x 30 minutes/week).'
  • 'Older adults with limited mobility should perform balance exercises at least three days a week in order to prevent falls.'
  • 'Older adults should have muscle-strengthening physical activity at least two days per week.'
  • 'Older adults should avoid long and uninterrupted sitting times and should regularly interrupt sitting with physical activity where possible.'
  • 'Older adults can achieve further health effects if they increase the volume and/or intensity of physical activity above the minimum recommendations.'
  • 'Older adults who cannot meet the recommendations due to health conditions should be as active as their current state of health allows.'
Danish Health Authority 2016
  • Older adults (65 years old and older) should be physically active for at least 30 minutes per day. The activity should be of moderate to high intensity and should extend beyond the usual short-term daily activities. If the 30 minutes is divided, each activity should be at least 10 minutes,
  • Engage in physical activity at least twice a week for at least 20 minutes to maintain or improve physical fitness and muscle and bone strength.
  • Perform stretching exercises at least twice a week for at least 10 minutes to maintain or improve flexibility. And perform regular exercises to maintain or improve balance

Fonds Gesundes Österreich (Austria) 2012

  • Older healthy adults (+65 years) should use every possibility to be physical active. Activity is better than inactivity. For health improvement it is necessary for older people to make moderate physical activity at least 150 minutes or vigorous activity at least 75 minutes a week. A combination of both is also recommended. Older people should also undertake muscle strengthening and balance and coordination improving physical activities

UK Department of Health, Social Services, and Public Safety 2011

  • 'Older adults (> 65 years) should aim to be active daily. Over a week, activity should add up to at least 150 minutes (21⁄2 hours) of moderate intensity activity (ex: brisk walking, ballroom dancing) in bouts of 10 minutes or more – one way to approach this is to do 30 minutes on at least 5 days a week.' 

  • 'For those who are already regularly active at moderate intensity, comparable benefits can be achieved through 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity spread across the week or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity.'
  • 'Older adults should also undertake physical activity to improve muscle strength (ex: carrying or moving heavy loads such as groceries, stepping, jumping, chair aerobics) on at least two days a week. '
  • 'Older adults at risk of falls should incorporate physical activity to improve balance and coordination (ex: Tai chi, Yoga) on at least two days a week.'
American College of Sports Medicine/ American Heart Association 2007
  • 'Older adults should participate in moderate-intensity endurance activities (ex: walking, aquatic exercise, stationary cycle) at least 30 or up to 60 minutes a week (for greater benefit) in bouts of at least 10 min each to total 150–300 minutes a week with at least or 20–30 minutes a week or more of vigorous-intensity activities to total 75–150 minutes a week, an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous activity.'

  • 'Older adults should undertake progressive weight training program or weight bearing calisthenics (8–10 exercises involving the major muscle groups of 8–12 repetitions each), stair climbing, and other strengthening activities that use the major muscle groups at least two days a week. '
  • 'Older adults should undertake flexibility training at least two days a week.
  • 'Older adults that are frequent fallers or with mobility problems should perform balance training that incorporate activities that include the following: 1) progressively difficult postures that gradually reduce the base of support (e.g., two-legged stand, semi-tandem stand, tandem stand, one-legged stand), 2) dynamic movements that perturb the center of gravity (e.g., tandem walk, circle turns), 3) stressing postural muscle groups (e.g., heel stands, toe stands), or 4) reducing sensory input (e.g., standing with eyes closed)'
  • 'Older adults should exceed the recommended minimum amounts of physical activity if they desire to improve their fitness. If chronic conditions preclude activity at the recommended minimum amount, older adults should perform physical activities as tolerated so as to avoid being sedentary.'

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 2018

  • The guidelines are the same for adults and older adults
  • 'As part of their weekly physical activity, older adults should do multicomponent physical activity that includes balance training as well as aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities'.
  • Older adults should determine their level of effort for physical activity relative to their level of fitness and understand whether and how their conditions affect their ability to do regular physical activity safely.
  • 'When older adults cannot do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week because of chronic conditions, they should be as physically active as their abilities and conditions allow'.
Australian Department of Health 2017
  • 'Older people should accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days'.
  • Older people should be active every day in as many ways as possible, doing a range of physical activities that incorporate fitness, strength, balance and flexibility.
  • 'Older people who have stopped physical activity, or who are starting a new physical activity, should start at a level that is easily manageable and gradually build up the recommended amount, type and frequency of activity'.
  • Older people who continue to enjoy a lifetime of vigorous physical activity should carry on doing so in a manner suited to their capability into later life, provided recommended safety procedures and guidelines are adhered to'.