Does Real-time Online Physical Exercise Improve Physical Fitness in Seniors?

ABSTRACT The need to interrupt in-person physical exercise due to the COVID-19 pandemic required the design of alternatives. Thus, the aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-month online physical exercise on physical fitness and body composition in community-dwelling older adults. This is a non-randomized controlled trial comprising 62 older adults (74.59 ± 5.79 years, 59.7% women) distributed in an exercise group (EG) that executed an 8-month online physical exercise (three sessions/week, multicomponent regime), or control group (CG). Changes in groups over time were modeled using a linear mixed model. The EG did not improve physical fitness nor body composition. After adjustments for age, sex, and body fat, there was a minimal significant benefit for lower body strength favoring the EG [group*time interaction 1.55 (0.65); p = .020]. In conclusion, online physical exercise did not improve but maintained overall physical fitness. The in-person physical exercise for older adults must be re-opened as soon as this population is going to be protected from COVID-19.