Physical inactivity in older adults remains a public health concern despite the well-documented benefits of exercise for physical, cognitive, and psychosocial health. Many programs fail to reach inactive individuals, particularly men over 60, and often lack sustainability. Therefore, a low-threshold concept was developed that integrates strength, endurance, and coordination training while particularly emphasizing a variety of popular sports activities. This non-randomized controlled study evaluated the influence on selected motor outcomes and sustainability of this concept for healthy but previously inactive adults aged 60+, focusing on motor performance, psychosocial well-being, and long-term adherence. 161 older adults (68.23 ± 4.47 years, 66% female) who were healthy but previously sporting inactive (no regular weekly sports participation) completed a 24-week exercise program with two weekly 90-minute sessions combining multicomponent fitness training and introductory classes to recreational sports (e.g., karate, table tennis, handball, archery). Assessments were carried out at six measurement points: at baseline (t0), intermediate (t1), and post-intervention (t2), with follow-up surveys at 4 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months. Motor abilities were assessed for maximal grip strength, strength capacity of the upper and lower extremities, motor reaction ability, lower body flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness. Motives of sport, psychosocial well-being and sustainability were assessed via questionnaires. Nonparametric Brunner–Langer model, a mixed ANOVA and post hoc tests were used to compare intervention and control group ( n = 32; 65.63 ± 3.63 years, 69% female) across the measurement time points t0–t2. Significant improvements with moderate effects for time*group were found in lower-limb strength 30s-chair-stand: χ 2 (1.84) = 5.127, p .001, Δ RTE = .150 and cardiovascular fitness for within-group effects (PWC130: p = .017, ƒ = .25), and also small within-group effects of the intervention group for muscular endurance (biceps curl: p .001, r = .06), motor reaction (drop-bar: p = .040, r = .03), flexibility (sit--reach: r = .03), with sex-specific advantages for women in endurance gains. Participants reported higher subjective well-being, increased social activity (40%) and positive feedback from their social environment. Sustainability was high: 97% of participants continued regular training after the intervention, 77% joined local sports clubs, and after 12 months, this proportion increased to 87% membership. The low-threshold, socially embedded, and gender-sensitive exercise program improve functional fitness, psychosocial well-being, and long-term adherence in previously inactive older adults, supporting active aging and providing a model for scalable community-based interventions.
Schumacher et al. (Wed,) studied this question.