Home-Based Exercise Programs for the Oldest-Old to Attenuate Physical Frailty: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Exercise Science
• Public Health

Background:

• The increasing number of elderly individuals living at home necessitates effective home-based physical exercise interventions.
• These interventions are crucial for preserving independence and delaying institutionalization and hospitalizations in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map and describe home exercise programs specifically designed for elderly individuals aged 80 and above experiencing physical frailty.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted, adhering to Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines.
• Systematic searches of five databases and gray literature were performed up to May 2023.
• Frailty assessment included Fried et al. criteria, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), gait, mobility, and author-assessed reduced physical function.

Main Results:

• Twenty studies involving 1,796 elderly participants met the inclusion criteria.
• Key interventions comprised muscular strength training (primarily lower limbs), flexibility, balance, aerobic, and functional training.
• These home-based programs demonstrated potential, safety, and effectiveness in preventing and alleviating physical frailty, with adherence rates ranging from 72% to 89%.

Conclusions:

• The findings facilitate the design of evidence-based home exercise interventions for older adults with physical frailty.
• These programs offer practical solutions for healthcare professionals to mitigate frailty and support independence in the aging population.
• The study addresses knowledge gaps and provides recommendations for future research in home-based geriatric exercise.