Feasibility and Effectiveness of Concurrent Exercise Training on Frail Older Adults Living in Nursing Homes

Feasibility and Effectiveness of a 12-week Concurrent Exercise Training on Physical Performance, Muscular Strength and Circulating Myokines in Frail Older Adults Living in Nursing Homes: a Cluster Randomized Crossover Trial

The present study is a crossover randomized controlled trial that aims to investigate the effects of concurrent exercise training over usual care on physical performance, muscle strength, and myokines concentrations in frail older adults living in nursing homes.The main questions it aims to answer is: Can a 12-week exercise intervention provide beneficial effects on physical performance, muscle strength and myokines among the most frail participants? Researchers will compare this intervention to usual care. Nursing homes (comprising participants) will be randomly assigned to a sequence of interventions (AB or BA), being A -exercise and B usual care. Participants will be assessed before and after each intervention.

The present study is a crossover randomized controlled trial that aims to investigate the effectiveness of a concurrent exercise training over usual care on physical performance, muscle strength, and myokines concentrations in frail older adults living in nursing homes. Nursing homes will be randomly assigned to receive a sequence of interventions (AB or BA), being A -exercise and B usual care. Participants will receive a 12-weeks of either exercise intervention or usual care. A 4-week washout period will be conducted between interventions. Participants will assessed before and after each intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Classified as frail according to the Fried criteria (e.g., frailty phenotype ≥ 3 criteria);
• Not having participated in any exercise intervention for the last 3 months;
• Being able to ambulate (with/without assistance).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any contraindication that could affect physical exercise performance or testing procedures, including terminal illness, uncontrolled disease or other unstable medical condition;
• Bone fracture in the past three months;
• having a short physical performance battery score (SPPB) < 3.