Factors Associated with Outdoor Winter Walking in Older Adults: A Scoping Review

The purpose of this study was to identify internal and external factors associated with outdoor winter walking in older adults. In this scoping review, 12 databases were searched. Inclusion criteria included English language, focus on adults 65 years of age or older, and evaluation of factors associated with outdoor winter walking. Two authors screened titles/abstracts and full text. Conflicts were resolved by consensus. Data were extracted, organized into tables, and summarized as pertaining to barriers/facilitators and internal/external factors associated with outdoor winter walking. A total of 6,843 articles were identified, 1,898 duplicates were removed, 4,789 were excluded during title/abstract screening, and 148 were excluded during full-text review. Eight studies were included. Four categories of factors affecting outdoor winter walking in older adults were identified: adverse weather conditions, physical environment, physical function, and perceptions relating to winter walking conditions. Rehabilitation and exercise professionals can use the results to educate their clients and implement the facilitators of and alternatives and solutions to barriers to outdoor winter walking.

Automated summary

The purpose of this study was to identify internal and external factors associated with outdoor winter walking in older adults. The study found that adverse weather conditions, physical environment, physical function, and perceptions relating to winter walking conditions were the four categories of factors affecting outdoor winter walking in older adults. These research findings can help rehabilitation and exercise professionals educate their clients and address barriers to outdoor winter walking.