Approaches to promoting exercise for the elderly : adapting to the next normal era

Main Article Content

Tachapon Tongterm

Abstract

        The COVID-19 pandemic has led to structural transformations across all dimensions of society, particularly among older adults, who face significant challenges related to health, social engagement, and technology. These changes have necessitated adaptations in physical activity behaviors and health management strategies to mitigate long-term negative impacts. This article aims to present strategies for promoting physical activity among older adults in the next normal era through the integration of sports science, digital technology, and family and community support. By analyzing post-pandemic health behavior trends among older adults and exploring the development of supportive infrastructure for physical activity, this study identifies key components essential for effective promotion of physical activity. The findings suggest that successful strategies should comprise four fundamental elements: 1) The design of exercise programs tailored to individual limitations, 2) the application of digital technology to facilitate participation and monitor progress, 3) the establishment of support networks involving families, communities, and online platforms, and 4) the development of environmental and policy frameworks that enable sustainable physical activity at the structural level. The integration of multidisciplinary knowledge plays a crucial role in overcoming barriers to physical activity among older adults while fostering long-term engagement in active lifestyles.

Article Details

How to Cite
Tongterm, T. (2025). Approaches to promoting exercise for the elderly : adapting to the next normal era. Pathumthani Health Sciences Journal, 6(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.14456/pjst.2025.1
Section
Academic Articles

References

Amagasa, S., Machida, M., Fukushima, N., Kikuchi, H., Takamiya, T., Odagiri, Y., & Inoue, S. (2018). Is objectively measured light-intensity physical activity associated with health outcomes after adjustment for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in adults? A systematic review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 15, 1-13.

Barnett, D.W., Barnett, A., Nathan, A., Van Cauwenberg, J., Cerin, E., & Council on Environment and Physical Activity (CEPA)-Older Adults working group. (2017). Built environmental correlates of older adults’ total physical activity and walking: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 14, 1-24.

Baron, K.G., Duffecy, J., Berendsen, M.A., Mason, I.C., Lattie, E.G., & Manalo, N.C. (2018). Feeling validated yet? A scoping review of the use of consumer-targeted wearable and mobile technology to measure and improve sleep. Sleep medicine reviews, 40, 151-159.

Bauman, A., Merom, D., Bull, F.C., Buchner, D.M., & Fiatarone Singh, M.A. (2016). Updating the evidence for physical activity: summative reviews of the epidemiological evidence, prevalence, and interventions to promote “active aging”. The gerontologist, 56(Suppl_2), S268-S280.

Brynjolfsson, E., Horton, J.J., Ozimek, A., Rock, D., Sharma, G., & TuYe, H.Y. (2020). COVID-19 and remote work: An early look at US data (No. w27344). Massachusetts: National Bureau of Economic Research.

Cerin, E., Nathan, A., Van Cauwenberg, J., Barnett, D.W., Barnett, A., & Council on Environment and Physical Activity (CEPA)–Older Adults working group. (2017). The neighbourhood physical environment and active travel in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 14, 1-23.

Chan, S. C., Huang, Q. L., Ho, W. S., Chan, R., Yeung, C., Wong, S., & Tsai, M. (2024). An Awareness, Courage, and Love Online Group Intervention for Chinese Older Adults in the Post-Pandemic Era: Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 12(21), 2158.

da Silva Rodrigues, G., da Silva Sobrinho, A. C., Costa, G. P., da Silva, L. S. L., de Lima, J. G. R., da Silva Gonçalves, L., ... & Júnior, C. R. B. (2025). Benefits of physical exercise through multivariate analysis in sedentary adults and elderly: An analysis of physical fitness, health and anthropometrics. Experimental Gerontology, 200, 112669.

Dantas, C., van Staalduinen, W., Illario, M., Mestheneos, E., Sharshakova, T., Silva, P. A., ... & Klemencic, V. S. (2024). A Holistic Approach to Wellbeing Through the Life Course: Topics for Learning by the Pandemic Context Post-2020. In COVID-19 (Forced) Innovations: Pandemic Impacts on Architecture and Urbanism (pp. 161-174). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

Faghy, M. A., Tatler, A., Chidley, C., Fryer, S., Stoner, L., Laddu, D., Arena, R., & Ashton, R. E. (2024). The physiologic benefits of optimizing cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity - From the cell to systems level in a post-pandemic world. Progress in cardiovascular diseases, 83, 49–54.

Fragala, M.S., Cadore, E.L., Dorgo, S., Izquierdo, M., Kraemer, W.J., Peterson, M.D., & Ryan, E.D. (2019). Resistance training for older adults: position statement from the national strength and conditioning association. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 33(8), 2019-2052.

Goethals, L., Barth, N., Guyot, J., Hupin, D., Celarier, T., & Bongue, B. (2020). Impact of home quarantine on physical activity among older adults living at home during the COVID-19 pandemic: qualitative interview study. JMIR aging, 3(1), e19007.

Granbom, M., Kristensson, J., & Sandberg, M. (2017). Effects on leisure activities and social participation of a case management intervention for frail older people living at home: a randomised controlled trial. Health & Social Care in the Community, 25(4), 1416-1429.

Guo, Y., Yang, F., Hu, F., Li, W., Ruggiano, N., & Lee, H.Y. (2020). Existing mobile phone apps for self-care management of people with Alzheimer disease and related dementias: systematic analysis. JMIR aging, 3(1), e15290.

He, Z., Wu, H., Yu, F., Fu, J., Sun, S., Huang, T., ... & Quan, M. (2021). Effects of smartphone-based interventions on physical activity in children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 9(2), e22601.

Kamińska, M. S., Miller, A., Rotter, I., Szylińska, A., & Grochans, E. (2018). The effectiveness of virtual reality training in reducing the risk of falls among elderly people. Clinical interventions in aging, 13, 2329–2338.

Koselka, E.P., Weidner, L.C., Minasov, A., Berman, M.G., Leonard, W.R., Santoso, M.V., ... & Horton, T.H. (2019). Walking green: developing an evidence base for nature prescriptions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(22), 4338.

Lai, B., Bond, K., Kim, Y., Barstow, B., Jovanov, E., & Bickel, C.S. (2020). Exploring the uptake and implementation of tele-monitored home-exercise programmes in adults with Parkinson’s disease: A mixed-methods pilot study. Journal of telemedicine and telecare, 26(1-2), 53-63.

Levinger, P., Panisset, M., Parker, H., Batchelor, F., Tye, M., & Hill, K.D. (2021). Guidance about age-friendly outdoor exercise equipment and associated strategies to maximise usability for older people. Health promotion journal of Australia, 32(3), 475-482.

Litchman, M.L., Rothwell, E., & Edelman, L.S. (2018). The diabetes online community: older adults supporting self-care through peer health. Patient education and counseling, 101(3), 518-523.

Michelini, E., Bortoletto, N., & Porrovecchio, A. (2024). COVID-19 and (the health-related promotion of) physical activity. The situation before, during and after the pandemic. Contemporary Social Science, 19(5), 1-17.

Park, S. T. (2023). Physical Activity and Immunity in the Elderly for the Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Literature Review. The Asian Journal of Kinesiology, 25(4), 50-59.

Park, S.A., Lee, A.Y., Park, H.G., & Lee, W.L. (2019). Benefits of gardening activities for cognitive function according to measurement of brain nerve growth factor levels. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(5), 760.

Rosenberg, D.E., Bellettiere, J., Gardiner, P.A., Villarreal, V.N., Crist, K., & Kerr, J. (2016). Independent associations between sedentary behaviors and mental, cognitive, physical, and functional health among older adults in retirement communities. Journals of gerontology series a: Biomedical sciences and medical sciences, 71(1), 78-83.

Sauliune, S., Kalediene, R., Kalibatas, V., Kaseliene, S., & Mesceriakova, O. (2025). Lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1504193.

Sherrington, C., Fairhall, N.J., Wallbank, G.K., Tiedemann, A., Michaleff, Z.A., Howard, K., ... & Lamb, S.E. (2019). Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 1, CD012424.

Stark, A.L., Geukes, C., & Dockweiler, C. (2022). Digital health promotion and prevention in settings: scoping review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(1), e21063.

Stark, S., Keglovits, M., Arbesman, M., & Lieberman, D. (2017). Effect of home modification interventions on the participation of community-dwelling adults with health conditions: A systematic review. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(2), 7102290010p1-7102290010p11.

Valenzuela, T., Okubo, Y., Woodbury, A., Lord, S.R., & Delbaere, K. (2018). Adherence to technology-based exercise programs in older adults: a systematic review. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 41(1), 49-61.

Vu, H. M., Nguyen, L. H., Nguyen, H. L. T., Vu, G. T., Nguyen, C. T., Hoang, T. N., ... & Ho, R. C. (2020). Individual and environmental factors associated with recurrent falls in elderly patients hospitalized after falls. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(7), 2441.

Wen, C., Albert, C., & Von Haaren, C. (2018). The elderly in green spaces: Exploring requirements and preferences concerning nature-based recreation. Sustainable cities and society, 38, 582-593.

Yerrakalva, D., Yerrakalva, D., Hajna, S., & Griffin, S. (2019). Effects of mobile health app interventions on sedentary time, physical activity, and fitness in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of medical Internet research, 21(11), e14343.

Zbinden-Foncea, H., Francaux, M., Deldicque, L., & Hawley, J. A. (2020). Does high cardiorespiratory fitness confer some protection against proinflammatory responses after infection by SARS-CoV-2?. Obesity, 28(8), 1378-1381.