Effects of leisure-time physical activity interventions on frailty-related characteristics of frail older adults in long-term care: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: The proportion of frailty in older adults is increasing in many countries. Demand for institutional long-term care followed by an increasing globally.

Aims: The effects of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) interventions on frail older adults in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) of randomized controlled trials.

Design: A literature searches of the published articles indexed in CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ProQuest, and Google Scholar between 2000 and 2017 was conducted.

Methods: The inclusion criteria were divided into four sections: (1) design: randomized controlled trials; (2) sample population: LTCF adults aged 60 years or over with frailty; (3) intervention: LTPA; and (4) body composition: physical, functional or neuropsychological tests as either the primary or the secondary outcomes.

Results: Three main themes were identified (the particular monitor, intervention duration and outcome measurement dimensions).

Impact statement and conclusions: LTPA interventions effectively improved the physical performance and body composition of frail older adults in LTCFs. Nevertheless, an optimal combination of intensity, duration and frequency is crucial.

Keywords:

• frail
• older adults
• physical activity
• physical performance
• long-term care

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1080/10376178.2020.1737555.

Additional information

Funding

This review has been funded solely by the Ministry of Science and Technology (104-2314-B-002-019-MY3 and 107-2314-B002-052), and Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan (RD1050178). However, the views expressed in this publication are those of the authors.