Effect of Exercise Programs on Physical Performance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with and without Frailty: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Cristina Flores-Bello; Elsa Correa-Muñoz; Martha A Sánchez-Rodríguez; Víctor Manuel Mendoza-Núñez

doi:10.3390/geriatrics9010008

Effect of Exercise Programs on Physical Performance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with and without Frailty: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Geriatrics (Basel). 2024 Jan 8;9(1):8. doi: 10.3390/geriatrics9010008.

Authors

Cristina Flores-Bello^{1

2}, Elsa Correa-Muñoz^{1

2}, Martha A Sánchez-Rodríguez^{1

2}, Víctor Manuel Mendoza-Núñez^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Research Unit on Gerontology, FES Zaragoza, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 09230, Mexico.
² Postgraduate Master's and Doctorate in Nursing, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 09230, Mexico.

Abstract

Background: The measurement of physical performance constitutes an indicator of the physical functional capacity of older adults with and without frailty.

Aim: To present a synthesis of knowledge on the effect of exercise programs on physical performance in older adults with and without frailty in the community.

Method: A systematic review was carried out in accordance with the PRISMA-2020 criteria. The search for articles was made until 4 May 2023 in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SciELO and LILACS. The outcome variable was physical performance, measured through the SPPB (Short Physical Performance Battery). The mean difference (MD) was estimated to evaluate the effect.

Result: We found 2483 studies, of which 12 met the eligibility criteria for the systematic review and 9 for the meta-analysis. The effect of exercise on SPPB scores was significantly higher in the exercise group compared to control in non-frail older adults with MD = 0.51 [95% CI, 0.05 to 0.96, p < 0.05]. Likewise, in older adults with frailty, the effect of exercise on the global SPPB score was significantly higher in the exercise group compared to the control with MD = 0.66 [95% CI, 0.09 to 1.24, p < 0.05].

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that exercise programs are effective in increasing and/or maintaining physical performance in older adults with and without frailty, whose effect is more evident in older adults with frailty, probably due to the greater margin of recovery of intrinsic capacity. This systematic review shows the differentiated effect of exercise training on physical performance in older adults with and without frailty. Scientific evidence reinforces the importance of implementing physical exercise programs in all older adults, including those who are frail. However, it is necessary to specify the types and doses (duration, frequency and intensity), for individualized groups, previously grouped according to the SPPB score.

Keywords: community-dwelling older adults; frailty; functional capacity; intrinsic capacity; physical exercise; physical performance.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This research was supported by Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (DGAPA-UNAM) (PAPIIT IN306121); Supporting Program for Professional growth of the Academic Staff at UNAM (Programa de Apoyos para la Superación del Personal Académico de la UNAM, PASPA).