Multicomponent or Resistance Training for Nursing Home Residents: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

To perform a systematic review with meta-analysis to verify the effects of multicomponent and resistance training on the physical performance in older adult residents in long-term care, as well as to compare these modalities.

Systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Older adults age over 60 years who are nursing home residents in long-term care.

Seven electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Central, Web of Science, SportDiscus, LILACS, and SCIELO) were searched from their inception until May 1, 2022. The methodological quality was assessed using PEDro scale. Mean difference and 95% confidence interval were pooled using a random-effects model. The significance level established was P value of ≤.05 for all analyses.

A total of 30 studies were included in the qualitative review (n = 1887, mean age 82.68 years and 70% female). Multicomponent training appeared in 19 studies and resistance training in 12 studies. Out of these, 17 studies were incorporated into the meta-analysis. Multicomponent training and resistance training showed statistically significant difference (P ≤ .05) in the physical performance of institutionalized older adults compared with the control groups (usual care); this was evaluated with the Short Physical Performance Battery (+1.2 points; +2 points), 30-second chair-stand (approximately +3 repetitions; both), and Timed Up and Go (-4 seconds on mean; both) tests. Comparisons between multicomponent and resistance training did not show statistically significant differences in any of the physical outcomes evaluated.

The studies provide evidence that both multicomponent training and resistance training may be effective in improving the physical performance of institutionalized older adults. Further studies with more representative sample numbers, an improvement in methodological quality, and a more specified prescription of the training used are necessary.