Abstract By: Shireen Hussein
Binder, E. F., Schechtman, K. B., Ehsani, A. A., Steger-May, K., Brown, M., Sinacore, D.R, et al. (2002). Effects of exercise training on frailty in community-dwelling older adults: Results of a randomized, controlled trial. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 50(12), 1921-1928.
Purpose
Physical frailty is characterized by a decline in muscle mass and strength, flexibility, balance, neuromuscular coordination, and cardiovascular function. Frailty significantly increases the chance for functional decline, institutionalization, morbidity, and mortality. Although there have been studies with mixed results on the effects of exercise on frailty, they have been specific to those who have certain conditions such as arthritis, or focused on certain factors such as strength or balance, resulting in little information on the effects of exercise training (ET) in older, frail adults and whether it can delay or reduce frailty. The purpose of this study was to determine if a multidimensional exercise-training program for community-dwelling older men and women could significantly reduce frailty.