Strength-training and balance activities in Canada: historical trends and current prevalence

Introduction: Muscle-strengthening and balance activities are associated with the pre-vention of illness and injury. Age-specific Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines include recommendations for muscle/bone-strengthening and balance activities. From 2000-2014, the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) included a module that assessed frequency in 22 physical activities. In 2020, a healthy living rapid response module (HLV-RR) on the CCHS asked new questions on the frequency of muscle/bone-strengthening and balance activities. The objectives of the study were to (1) estimate and characterize adherence to meeting the muscle/bone-strengthening and balance rec-ommendations; (2) examine associations between muscle/bone-strengthening and bal-ance activities with physical and mental health; and (3) examine trends (2000-2014) in adherence to recommendations. Methods: Using data from the 2020 CCHS HLV-RR, we estimated age-specific prevalence of meeting recommendations. Multivariate logistic regressions examined associations with physical and mental health. Using data from the 2000-2014 CCHS, sex-specific temporal trends in recommendation adherence were explored using logistic regression. Results: Youth aged 12 to 17 years (56.6%, 95% CI: 52.4-60.8) and adults aged 18 to 64 years (54.9%, 95% CI: 53.1-56.8) had significantly greater adherence to the muscle/ bone-strengthening recommendation than adults aged 65 years and older (41.7%, 95% CI: 38.9-44.5). Only 16% of older adults met the balance recommendation. Meeting the recommendations was associated with better physical and mental health. The propor-tion of Canadians who met the recommendations increased between 2000 and 2014. Conclusion: Approximately half of Canadians met their age-specific muscle/bone-strengthening recommendations. Reporting on the muscle/bone-strengthening and bal-ance recommendations elevates their importance alongside the already recognized aerobic recommendation.

Automated summary

Muscle-strengthening and balance activities are important for preventing illness and injury. Canada has specific guidelines for different age groups regarding muscle/bone-strengthening and balance activities. This study aims to estimate adherence to these recommendations, examine the associations with physical and mental health, and analyze the trends in adherence from 2000 to 2014.