Retirement changes daily routines. Time previously used for work and commuting is replaced by leisure time. In this study, more than 500 employees from Finland wore motion sensors before and after retirement. The results show that women’s physical activity decreased, especially if they worked in blue-collar occupations. Men who worked in white-collar occupations increased their activity after retirement. However, even after retirement women remained more active than men. People who biked or walked to work were more active than those who commuted by car. Those who biked or walked to work also maintained their activity level after retirement, whereas those who used public transport for commuting decreased their activity after retirement. Authors suggest that recent retirees should be encouraged to increase their daily physical activity to substitute work and commuting-related physical activity
