Exercise intevention in the Physically frail older adult to prevent disability

Abstract

Aging is associated with declines in the neuromuscular and cardiovascular systems, resulting in an impaired capacity to perform daily activities. Frailty is an age-associated biological syndrome characterized by decreases in the biological functional reserve and resistance to stressors due to changes in several physiological systems, which puts older individuals at special risk of disability. To counteract the neuromuscular and cardiovascular declines associated with aging, as well as to prevent and treat the frailty syndrome, the strength and endurance training seems to be an effective strategy to improve muscle hypertrophy, strength and power output, as well as endurance performance. The combination of strength and endurance training (i.e., concurrent training) performed at moderate volume and moderate to high intensity in elderly populations is the most effective way to improve both neuromuscular and cardiorespiratory functions. Moreover, exercise interventions that include muscle power training should be prescribed to frail elderly in order to improve the overall physical status of this population and prevent disability. A multi-component exercise intervention program that consists of strength, endurance, and balance training appears to be the best strategy for improving gait, balance, and strength, as well as reducing the rate of falls in elderly individuals and consequently maintaining their functional capacity during aging. Most of the studies demonstrating improvements in gait, balance, and fall risk have used multicomponent exercise training as intervention in their subjects.