Characteristics of effective home-based resistance training in patients with noncommunicable chronic diseases: a systematic scoping review of randomised controlled trials

ABSTRACT

Skeletal muscle atrophy, dysfunction, and weakness are consequences of noncommunicable diseases which result in exercise and functional limitations which contribute to poor quality of life and increased mortality. Home-based resistance training may promote skeletal muscle health. Electronic-based systematic searches were performed identifying randomised controlled trials utilising home-based resistance training in patients with noncommunicable diseases defined as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus (type 1 and 2), chronic kidney disease (including dialysis), and chronic respiratory disease (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary hypertension). A comparator group was defined as one containing “non-exercise” or “usual care”. Of the 239 studies identified (published between 1996 and 2020), 22 met the inclusion criteria. Sixteen studies contained an adjunct aerobic training component. Study designs and outcome measures showed large variation. Reporting of the principles of training applied within interventions was poor. Heterogeneity in study characteristics, and poor reporting of training characteristics, prevents formal recommendations for optimising home-based resistance training. However, home-based interventions are less resource-intensive than supervised programmes and appear to have the ability to improve or preserve pertinent outcomes such as strength, functional ability, and quality of life; potentially reducing the risk of mortality in patients with chronic disease.

KEYWORDS:

• strength training
• strength
• exercise
• quality of life
• muscle

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

T.J.W. designed the study protocol. R.E.B. and N.V. wrote this manuscript. All authors contributed to reviewing articles, charting, and interpreting the data.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1861741.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was gratefully part-funded by the Stoneygate Trust. The research was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). REB is funded by a Kidney Research UK (KRUK) project grant awarded to MGB (CI), TJW and ACS are co-investigators. NV is funded by a University of Leicester PhD studentship. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR Leicester BRC or the Department of Health.