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. 2011 Apr 4;2011:569194. doi: 10.4061/2011/569194

Table 2.

Description of studies that included community-dwelling older adults.

N (%F)
Mean age
Inclusion criteria Intervention characteristics Outcome measurese Quality Reference
188 (80)
83
Moderate and severe physical frail (walking test and chair stand test), >75b Multicomponent training (resistance, balance, and flexibility), 24 weeks, 3/week, up to 60 min/session, 2 × 10 rep at three levels of difficulty Walking speed (3 meters test); chair rises (3 times); test batteries (POMA, PPT); ADL disability (8 ADL scale, IADL scale); falls (fear of falling); utilization of resources (admission and days spent in nursing home) 5 [3437]
161 (71)
79
Frail (reduced physical activity and weight loss)b Supervised group functional multicomponent training (aerobic, resistance, flexibility, speed, coordination, and skills training), 17 weeks, 2/week, 45 min/session, intensity 6–8 on a 10-point perceived exertion scale Body composition (weight, muscle mass, fat mass, and bone mass); nutrition (energy and carbohydrate intake, fat and protein intake, haematological indicators, sensory performance, and appetite); biochemical (cellular immune response); neurological (visual stimulus reaction time, coordination); psychosocial state (social involvement); Groningen fitness test for the elderly (strength, flexibility, balance, block transfer, and reaction time); test batteries (functional performance based on six performance tests); ADL disability (self-reported ability to perform 16 ADL); QOL (Dutch scale of subjective wellbeing for older persons, self-rated health) 4 [2229]
155 (79)
77
Frail (SPPB and the indication of difficulty with ADL), >70b Class-based multicomponent training (functional aerobic, resistance, and flexibility), 72 weeks, 3/week, 75 min/session Only exercise compliance 5 [60]
115 (52)
83
Mild-to-moderate physical frail (PPT, difficulty with ADL, and reduced peak aerobic power), >78b Multicomponent (physical therapy, aerobic, and resistance), 36 weeks, 3/week, 20–60 min/session, 3 × 8–12 rep at 85–100% 1RM, 15 min at 65–70% VO2max and 3–5 min 85–90% VO2max Body composition (weight, muscle mass, fat mass, and bone mass); nutrition (energy intake); cardio (VO2max, cardiac output, exercise HR and peak BP, resting HR and BP,and left ventricular stroke work); muscle function (lower and upper strength); balance (one leg stance, BBS); test batteries (PPT, functional status questionnaire); ADL disability (The Older American Resources and Services Instrument); QOL (SF-36) 5 [3033]
96 (60)
83
Frail (reduced physical activity and weight loss), >75, receiving home service, age under 75, body mass index <30 kg/m2 b Multicomponent training (aerobic, resistance, and Qigong), 12 weeks, 2/week, 60 min/session, 60–80% intensity Body composition (weight, muscle mass); nutrition (energy intake); psychosocial state (health belief model); muscle function (lower and upper strength); walking speed (10 meters test); chair rises (30sec); TUG; stair climb (30sec); balance (one leg and tandem stance, modified figure 8); ADL disability (FIM, IAM) 3 [74]
84 (57)
83
Mild-to-moderate physical frail (PPT), >78, sedentary, living independently but with difficultyb Low-intensity supervised multicomponent training (resistance, balance, flexibility, body handling skills, speed of reaction, and coordination), 12 weeks, 3/week, three levels of difficulty for each exercise Neurological (visual stimulus reaction time, light touch and pressure sensation and proprioception, coordination); muscle function (lower and upper strength); flexibility (shoulder, hip, knee, trunk ROM); walking speed; balance (one leg stance, obstacle course, BBS); test batteries (PPT) 2 [64]
77 (81)
81
Physical frail (at least one fall during the last year and used some kind of walking aid either indoors or outdoors), >75b Functional multicomponent training (resistance, balance), 12 weeks, 2/week, 40 min/session Psychosocial state (satisfaction); PA (interview, frequency and duration of outdoor walks); walking speed (3 meters test); QOL (SF-36) 5 [75]
53 (100)
82
Frail (reduced physical activity and unable to get outdoors without walking aids or help from another person and/or subjective functional ability), >75, receiving practical and/or personal public home careb Home-based multicomponent training (aerobic, resistance, flexibility, and dynamic balance), 20 weeks, 3/week, 26 min/session Psychosocial state (mobility-tiredness scale); muscle function (lower power and upper strength); walking speed (10 meters test); chair rises (5 times); balance (stance); test batteries (PPT); QOL (EQ-5D questionnaire, self-rated health status) 3 [77]
424 (69)
77
70–89, inactivity, risk for major mobility disability as indicated by a summary score of ≤9 on the SPPB (balance, mobility, strength)c Multicomponent training (aerobic, resistance, balance, flexibility, and walking), 48 weeks, 1–3/week, 60 min/session, intensity based on Borg's RPE scale Psychosocial state (self-efficacy for the 400-m walk, satisfaction with physical function); PA (CHAMPS questionnaire) 5 [66]
13 (0)
75
>70, at risk for fall (history of fall past year, muscle weakness, measurable gait or balance impairment)c Multicomponent training (resistance, balance, and walking), 12 weeks, 3/week, 60 min/session Biochemical status (immune) 3 [61]
46 (59)
81
Referred by their general practitioner and patients who could not leave their home by themselvesd Multicomponent and comprehensive training (aerobic, resistance, balance, flexibility, rhythm, and reaction), 12 weeks, 2/week, 60 min/session Body composition (muscle and fat mass), cardio (VO2max); muscle function (upper strength); walking speed (10 meters test); balance (BBS); QOL (SF-36) 2 [41, 42]
100 (50)
78
Frail (inability to descend stairs step over step without holding the railing)b Home-based resistance training, 10 weeks, 3/week Muscle function (lower strength); walking speed (10 meters test); mobility endurance (6-minute walk test); chair rises (lowest height someone stands); balance (postural sway, functional reach); test batteries (mobility skills protocol); QOL (SF-36); falls (fear of falling) 5 [65]
31 (35)
71
Moderate frail (PPT)c Resistance training, 24 weeks, 3/week, 60 min/session, 3 × 8 rep based on 1RM Body composition (muscle mass, muscle fiber distribution); biochemical (IGF-I); muscle function (KE strength) 2 [62]
21 (100)
78
>70, SPPB score 4–10 (balance, mobility, strength)c Progressive resistance training (mobility task specific and one component at the fastest possible velocity), 12 weeks, 3/week, 30 min/session, 3 sets Muscle function (lower power); walking speed (2.4 meters test); chair rises (5 times); balance (one leg stance); test batteries (SPPB) 4 [63]
17 (71)
82
mild to moderate physical frail (PPT and difficulty with ADL)b Resistance training, 24 weeks, 3/week, initially 1–2 × 6–8 rep at 65–75% 1RM and progressed to 3 × 8–12 rep at 85–100% 1RM Body composition (weight, muscle mass); biochemical status (muscle protein synthesis, TNF-α, LPL protein content); muscle function (lower and upper strength) 2 [3840]
21 (48)
80
>65, Using the day care facility 2 or more times per weekd Horse riding simulator training, 12 weeks, 2/week, 10–30 min/session, speed of the simulator based on the physical activity of participants Walking Speed (5 meters test); TUG; Balance (stance, spinal alignment, and functional reach) 2 [86]

bNonvalidated operational definition of frailty.

cAt least one frailty indicator in the inclusion criteria.

dNo frailty indicators on the inclusion criteria.

eSignificant between-group differences are shown in bold.

1RM: one repetition maximum; ADL: activities of daily living; BBS: Berg balance scale; BP: blood pressure; FIM: functional independence measure; HR: heart rate; IADL: instrumental activities of daily living; IAM: instrumental activity measure; IGF-I: insulin-like growth factor I; KE: knee extension; LPL: lipoprotein lipase; PA: physical activity; POMA: Tinetti performance-oriented mobility assessment; PPT: physical performance test; QOL: quality of life; rep: repetitions; ROM: range of motion; RPE: rating of perceived exertion; SF-36: medical outcomes survey short-form 36; SPPB: short physical performance battery; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor alpha; TUG: timed up-and-go test; VO2max: maximal oxygen uptake.