Exercise Safety and Health Screening in Older Adults

Ensuring the safety of exercise participation in older adults requires a comprehensive approach to health screening that balances risk identification with encouragement of physical activity. Age‐related declines in cardiovascular reserve, musculoskeletal strength and balance increase vulnerability to adverse events during exertion, making tailored assessment essential. Key elements of a screening protocol include medical history review, functional capacity evaluation and stratification of cardiovascular and metabolic risk. Effective screening identifies contraindications such as unstable cardiac conditions, severe osteoarthritis or uncontrolled hypertension, while guiding the design of personalised exercise prescriptions. In parallel, ongoing monitoring of vital signs and functional performance supports early detection of adverse responses. Adopted globally, such protocols underpin safe engagement in resistance, balance and aerobic training, demonstrating that with appropriate safeguards, exercise remains a cornerstone of healthy ageing and chronic‐disease management.

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Exercise Safety and Health Screening in Older Adults publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in exercise safety and health screening in older adults across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Pre-participation screening: A systematic process to evaluate health risks before beginning an exercise programme.

Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q+): A brief, self-report tool designed to identify individuals who may require further medical evaluation prior to exercise.

Sarcopenia: Age-related loss of muscle mass and function, often assessed by grip strength and gait speed.

VO2max: The maximal rate of oxygen consumption during intense exercise, reflecting aerobic capacity and cardiovascular fitness.

References

1. A review of research progress on the comorbidity of sarcopenia and cardiovascular diseases in the elderly. MEDS Public Health and Preventive Medicine (2024).
2. Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Reproducibility of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+): The Brazilian Portuguese Version. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine (2021).
3. What is the impact of obtaining medical clearance to participate in a randomised controlled trial examining a physical activity intervention on the socio-demographic and risk factor profiles of included participants?. Trials (2016).