The COVID-19 pandemic has actively impacted the lifestyle of older adults, interrupting their participation in exercise programs (EP) and consequently increasing sedentary behavior (SB) and decreasing physical activity (PA). However, the flexibilization of the pandemic's restrictive measures is expect that the older adults will return to adopting an active lifestyle.

To compare the SB and PA level of older adults during and after the restrictive measures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is an observational and longitudinal study. Older adults (≥60 years old), with preserved ambulation and participants in the multicomponent EP (3x50min during the week) before the COVID-19 pandemic were included. The participants were evaluated 18 months (T1= during the restrictive measures of the pandemic) and 24 months (T2= after the restrictive measures of the pandemic) after the interruption of the EP. SB and PA level were evaluated by the ActivPAL3TM micro accelerometer. SB variables were daily SB time, % of SB time during the day, daily sitting time, number of sedentary bouts > 30min and time spent in sedentary bouts > 30min. The PA level was described by the number of steps per day. To evaluate the effect of time in the SB variables and the PA level, a generalized linear mixed model analysis was used. Time was considered a fixed effect and participants a random factor. Results are presented in estimated marginal means and standard error. Statistical analysis was performed using the JAMOVI software (version 2.3.18) and a significance level of p < 0.05 was adopted.

Seventeen older adults were included (75.8 ± 7.47 years, 76.5% female). No statistically significant differences were observed in the time spent in SB (T1= 8.49 h and T2= 8.85 h, X2= 1.99, Dif= 0.356, p= 0.158), % of time in SB (T1= 55.9 % and T2= 56.3%, X2= 0.06, Dif= 0.382, p= 0.793), sitting time (T1= 8.06 h and T2= 7.87 h, X2= 0.324, Dif= -0.191, p = 0.569), number of sedentary bouts > 30min (T1= 3.85 and T2= 4.14, X2= 0.941, Dif= 0.293, p= 0.332), time spent in sedentary bouts > 30min (T1= 4.23 h and T2= 3.90 h, X2= 0.998, Dif= -0.332, p= 0.318) and in the PA level (T1= 9521 steps and T2= 9862 steps, X2= 0.653, Dif= 341, p= 0.419) of older adults after the flexibilization of the restrictive measures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

No significant changes were observed in the SB and PA level of older adults who participated in an EP after the flexibilization of restrictive measures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The findings of this study demonstrate that despite the flexibilization of restrictive measures of the COVID-19 pandemic, the older adults continue to have high rates of SB, demonstrating the need to implement public policies that reduce SB and encourage the practice of PA.