Effects of multicomponent exercise training on the intrinsic capacity in frail older adults: review of clinical trials

Abstract

Aim: To review the effects of multicomponent exercise training on the domains of the intrinsic capacity of physically frail older adults: locomotion, vitality, cognition, psychological outcomes, and sensory function. Methods: The search for the studies was carried out in the MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, and PEDro databases, along with manual search, delimiting the period of publication as the last 10 years. The initial search identified 338 studies and 18 among them were analyzed qualitatively. Results: From the analysis of the included studies, great variability was evidenced between the intervention protocols, as well as between the results. As for the effectiveness of multicomponent exercise training, it has been shown to induce a positive effect on most of the analyzed outcomes. Conclusion: In summary, the present review suggests that multicomponent physical training can be effective to improve aspects of locomotion, cognition, and psychological aspects in frail older populations. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to specify the time needed to achieve such adaptations, the magnitude of these adaptations, and the design of the most appropriate training program for each outcome related to intrinsic capabilities.