Judo‐based exercise programs to improve health outcomes in middle‐aged and older adults with no judo experience: A scoping review

Abstract

The practice of judo appears to impact positively on physical performance, muscle strength and flexibility in older people, while also benefiting bone mineral density in middle‐aged adults. This scoping review aimed to map the range, scope and type of relevant studies conducted to examine the safety, feasibility and effects of judo interventions on various health‐related outcomes designed for middle‐aged and older adults (≥45 years) with no previous experience in judo. Six databases as well as gray literature were searched using a developed search strategy. Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts, as well as full‐texts of relevant articles using data extraction tools developed for the purpose of this study. Fifteen original studies were included, comprising 648 participants (mean age 45–77.8 years). All 15 studies reported significant positive results of ≥1 health‐related outcome. Quality of life and bone mineral density seemed to improve only after longer interventions (≥9 or ≥12 months, respectively), while results regarding fear of falling and physical activity levels were mixed. Five studies showed improvements in fear of falling while four studies reported no change. Similarly, two studies showed improvements in physical activity, while another study showed no change. Five studies reported on safety and deemed their intervention to be safe (no adverse events), with two studies confirming feasibility. Findings suggest that judo interventions can positively impact health‐related outcomes in middle‐aged and older adults. However, studies had small sample sizes and more research is needed to confirm these findings. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 163–178.