Research Highlights Impact of Physical Activity and Fitness in Older Adults

A recent study by Manne Godhe, a Ph.D. student at the Sports Medicine research group within the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery at Karolinska Institutet, explores the relationship between physical activity, physical capacity, and aging. His thesis, titled "Physical activity and fitness measures in healthy older adults and hip osteoarthritis patients," sheds light on how exercise influences physical health in older populations and assesses the reliability of practical fitness tests used in both research and clinical settings.

The research particularly emphasizes the importance of accessible, field-based physical fitness assessments that demonstrate good reliability for older adults. These tests can be invaluable tools for monitoring health status and fitness progression over time. The study found that short-term structured exercise programs—lasting just eight weeks with twice-weekly sessions—significantly improve muscular endurance, strength, cardiovascular health, and motor skills in aging individuals.

Furthermore, the study compared healthy older adults with those suffering from severe hip osteoarthritis. It revealed that osteoarthritis considerably impairs physical function and activity levels. However, after undergoing total hip arthroplasty (hip replacement surgery), patients showed notable improvements in physical fitness and activity engagement. Remarkably, a year post-surgery, many patients met international physical activity guidelines.

The findings have meaningful implications for public health and rehabilitation. Implementing simple, cost-effective fitness tests can facilitate better assessment and monitoring in community care and medical practice. The research underscores that even brief exercise interventions offer tangible benefits for maintaining and enhancing health in older populations. Additionally, for patients with advanced osteoarthritis, these insights can inform rehabilitation strategies and set realistic recovery milestones.

Looking forward, Manne Godhe aims to refine exercise protocols tailored for diverse groups of older adults and to develop more practical assessment tools that can seamlessly integrate into routine healthcare. These advancements could significantly support the promotion of physical activity as a vital component of healthy aging.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-thesis-physical-capacity-older-adults.html