Effects of a multicomponent training and detraining on frailty status, physical activity level, sedentary behavior patterns and physical performance of pre-frail older adults: a randomized controlled trial

Purpose

To evaluate the effects of a multicomponent training protocol and detraining on frailty status, physical activity level, sedentary behavior patterns, and physical performance in pre-frail older adults.

Methods

A randomized controlled blinded trial was conducted with pre-frail older adults (74.8 ± 6.4 years, 70.4% female), who were allocated to receive a multicomponent training (MulTI = 16) or control group (CG = 11), which received guidance to maintain their daily living habits. Assessments of the frailty phenotype, physical activity levels measured by accelerometer, and physical performance (gait speed, timed up and go, short physical performance battery) were conducted at pre-intervention, post-intervention (16 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks). The effect of the intervention was analyzed using the marginal homogeneity test and the two-way ANOVA with repeated measures.

Results

All older adults who received the MulTI reversed their frailty status to non-frail (p < 0.001), and after follow-up, 87.5% remained non-frail. In the CG, one older adult reversed their frailty status to non-frail and another became frail (p > 0.05), maintaining this status after the follow-up period. Furthermore, only the older adults in the MulTI showed an improvement in gait speed post-intervention, which was maintained through follow-up (p = 0.008). No changes were observed in the other variables.

Conclusion

The MulTI was efficient to reverse the process of frailty and improving gait speed in pre-frail older adults. However, receiving only the MulTI was not sufficient to increase physical activity levels and reduce sedentary behavior patterns, necessitating the implementation of behavioral change strategies.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03110419.

Graphical abstract