Early-life endurance sports lowers frailty and falls in former male athletes.

ABSTRACT: The long-term impact of professional endurance sports on frailty and fall risk in older age remains underexplored. This study examined frailty, physical activity (PA), and health outcomes in older men with and without a history of professional endurance sports. We assessed 200 men aged 60-85 years, 100 former professional endurance athletes (For-A) with ≥ 5 years of competitive experience and 100 age-matched non-athletes (Non-A). Frailty was evaluated using the Frailty Assessment Screening Tool (FAST), PA with the International PA Questionnaire-Short Form, quality of life (QoL) perception via self-report, and falls/hospitalizations via examination. Group differences were tested with Independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U, and chi-square, while ANCOVA and logistic regression were employed to a

SUBMITTER: Bas KG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12559334 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature