Walking Football as a Multidimensional Intervention for Healthy Aging: A Scoping Review of Physical and Functional Outcomes in Older Adults.

Abstract

Population aging presents pressing public health challenges, calling for accessible and effective interventions to preserve functional capacity and prevent frailty. Walking football, an adapted sport for older adults, has emerged as a promising approach by combining aerobic activity, neuromuscular stimulation, and social engagement. This scoping review aimed to synthesize experimental evidence on its effect on physical and functional outcomes in older adults. Following PRISMC-ScR and Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, a systematic search across seven databases identified 10 studies with 332 participants (mean age 68.7 years, 85.2% male). Interventions lasted 6-16 weeks, with two to three weekly sessions. The outcomes assessed included strength, agility, cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and clinical parameters. Six studies reported improvements in at least one component of physical fitness, particularly handgrip strength, abdominal fat reduction, and aerobic capacity. Among the included studies, three were randomized controlled trials, four quasi-experimental designs, and three intervention studies without control groups, highlighting the methodological heterogeneity of the field. Some studies also reported benefits in blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and quality of life. Despite promising results, the literature lacks large-scale randomized trials, female representation, and long-term assessments. Walking football appears to be a safe, multicomponent, and low-cost strategy to support healthy aging and warrants integrations into public health policies.