Is the Reduction of Frailty Associated with a Community-Based Exercise Program Maintained Over Time?

Background:
Regular physical activity intervention programs are known to prevent and reverse frailty. However, the sustainability of these improvements after cessation of the programs need to be better understood.

Purpose:
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a 10-week community-based physical activity program on frailty levels in older adults and to determine if the effects of the intervention program were maintained six months following cessation of the program.

Methods:
Twenty-one older adults (mean age: 70.1±4.9 years), including 20 females, participated in this study. Participants completed a self-reported 34-item frailty index: each item was coded as 0 [no deficit] or 1 [deficit], with the total calculated as the accumulated deficits divided by the number of deficits measured). Physical functions were measured as step counts (Fitbit) and the six-minute walk test (6MWT) before the intervention, immediately after the 10-week intervention, and six months post-intervention.

Results:
The analysis revealed an increase in participants’ step counts and 6MWT distances from the pre-intervention phase to immediately after the intervention (p < 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively). However, there were no significant changes in both metrics six months post-intervention compared to pre-intervention (p = 0.7 and p = 0.5, respectively). The data indicate a decline in frailty levels from pre-intervention (0.080 ± 0.047) to immediate post-intervention (0.058 ± 0.035) (p = 0.03). However, no significant changes in frailty levels were observed six months after the intervention compared to pre-intervention (0.078 ± 0.011) (p = 0.2).

Conclusions:
The implemented program enhanced physical function and reduced frailty of older adults temporarily; however, these improvements did not persist over time.

Practical implications:
This research underscores the need to create methods to encourage continuous participation in physical activities, which is essential for maintaining improvements in frailty levels among older adults.