Aging towards walkable futures: insights from a multidisciplinary workshop held in Barcelona, Spain
Abstract Background The aging of the world’s population and the increase in sedentary lifestyles are leading to an increase in walking impairments at older ages. Here, we aimed to comprehensively discuss walking in the context of an aging population; and identify and agree on a list of future resear...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21223-z |
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| author | Enric Vall-Garcia Laura Delgado-Ortiz Lisa Alcock Laura Coll-Planas José Augusto García-Navarro Susanne Iwarsson Josep Maria Jansà Carl-Philipp Jansen Sarah Koch Simon Schwartz Merja Rantakokko Adelaida Sarukhan Willeke van Staalduinen Lynn Rochester Judith Garcia-Aymerich |
| author_facet | Enric Vall-Garcia Laura Delgado-Ortiz Lisa Alcock Laura Coll-Planas José Augusto García-Navarro Susanne Iwarsson Josep Maria Jansà Carl-Philipp Jansen Sarah Koch Simon Schwartz Merja Rantakokko Adelaida Sarukhan Willeke van Staalduinen Lynn Rochester Judith Garcia-Aymerich |
| author_sort | Enric Vall-Garcia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The aging of the world’s population and the increase in sedentary lifestyles are leading to an increase in walking impairments at older ages. Here, we aimed to comprehensively discuss walking in the context of an aging population; and identify and agree on a list of future research priorities and policy actions. Methods We followed a participatory approach and held a multidisciplinary two-day workshop on October, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain, with experts in the fields of aging and walking, and participants from the general public. Results A total of 56 national and international participants, from a multidisciplinary background, joined the workshop. They had a median age of 40 years (range 24–83), and 62% were female. Participants discussed the meaning of walking from different perspectives and its change with age and in the presence of diverse mobility-impairing conditions; the emotional and social components of walking; and the role of the environment in walking. Participants identified unmet needs, research priorities and policy actions related to walking in older ages. Conclusions This two-day workshop provided a space for professionals and public to comprehensively discuss walking at older ages. Participants highlighted the relevance of a better and more comprehensive assessment of walking; the need to shift focus towards comprehensive health that considers physical, emotional and social aspects as well as individuals’ preferences and expectations; and the importance of translating research into action. Future work can draw on the discussions held during this event in a thought-provoking and hypothesis-generating way. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-08e29c48017942c9a7079c937678980a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-08e29c48017942c9a7079c937678980a2025-01-19T12:42:13ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111210.1186/s12889-024-21223-zAging towards walkable futures: insights from a multidisciplinary workshop held in Barcelona, SpainEnric Vall-Garcia0Laura Delgado-Ortiz1Lisa Alcock2Laura Coll-Planas3José Augusto García-Navarro4Susanne Iwarsson5Josep Maria Jansà6Carl-Philipp Jansen7Sarah Koch8Simon Schwartz9Merja Rantakokko10Adelaida Sarukhan11Willeke van Staalduinen12Lynn Rochester13Judith Garcia-Aymerich14Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle UniversityResearch group on Methodology, Methods, Models and Outcomes of Health and Social Sciences (M3O), Faculty of Health Sciences and Welfare. Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CESS), University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC)Consorci de Salut i Social de CatalunyaDepartment of Health Sciences, Lund UniversityAgència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB)Department of Clinical Gerontology and Rehabilitation, Robert-Bosch HospitalBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)Federació d’Associacions de Gent Gran de Catalunya (FATEC)Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of JyväskyläBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)Age-Friendly Environments Academy (AFEdemy)Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle UniversityBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)Abstract Background The aging of the world’s population and the increase in sedentary lifestyles are leading to an increase in walking impairments at older ages. Here, we aimed to comprehensively discuss walking in the context of an aging population; and identify and agree on a list of future research priorities and policy actions. Methods We followed a participatory approach and held a multidisciplinary two-day workshop on October, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain, with experts in the fields of aging and walking, and participants from the general public. Results A total of 56 national and international participants, from a multidisciplinary background, joined the workshop. They had a median age of 40 years (range 24–83), and 62% were female. Participants discussed the meaning of walking from different perspectives and its change with age and in the presence of diverse mobility-impairing conditions; the emotional and social components of walking; and the role of the environment in walking. Participants identified unmet needs, research priorities and policy actions related to walking in older ages. Conclusions This two-day workshop provided a space for professionals and public to comprehensively discuss walking at older ages. Participants highlighted the relevance of a better and more comprehensive assessment of walking; the need to shift focus towards comprehensive health that considers physical, emotional and social aspects as well as individuals’ preferences and expectations; and the importance of translating research into action. Future work can draw on the discussions held during this event in a thought-provoking and hypothesis-generating way.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21223-zAgingWalkingPhysical activityEnvironment |
| spellingShingle | Enric Vall-Garcia Laura Delgado-Ortiz Lisa Alcock Laura Coll-Planas José Augusto García-Navarro Susanne Iwarsson Josep Maria Jansà Carl-Philipp Jansen Sarah Koch Simon Schwartz Merja Rantakokko Adelaida Sarukhan Willeke van Staalduinen Lynn Rochester Judith Garcia-Aymerich Aging towards walkable futures: insights from a multidisciplinary workshop held in Barcelona, Spain BMC Public Health Aging Walking Physical activity Environment |
| title | Aging towards walkable futures: insights from a multidisciplinary workshop held in Barcelona, Spain |
| title_full | Aging towards walkable futures: insights from a multidisciplinary workshop held in Barcelona, Spain |
| title_fullStr | Aging towards walkable futures: insights from a multidisciplinary workshop held in Barcelona, Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aging towards walkable futures: insights from a multidisciplinary workshop held in Barcelona, Spain |
| title_short | Aging towards walkable futures: insights from a multidisciplinary workshop held in Barcelona, Spain |
| title_sort | aging towards walkable futures insights from a multidisciplinary workshop held in barcelona spain |
| topic | Aging Walking Physical activity Environment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21223-z |
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