Moving against frailty: does physical activity matter?

Abstract

Frailty is a common condition in older persons and has been described as a geriatric syndrome resulting from age-related cumulative declines across multiple physiologic systems, with impaired homeostatic reserve and a reduced capacity of the organism to resist stress. Therefore, frailty is considered as a state of high vulnerability for adverse health outcomes, such as disability, falls, hospitalization, institutionalization, and mortality. Regular physical activity has been shown to protect against diverse components of the frailty syndrome in men and women of all ages and frailty is not a contra-indication to physical activity, rather it may be one of the most important reasons to prescribe physical exercise. It has been recognized that physical activity can have an impact on different components of the frailty syndrome. This review will address the role of physical activity on the most relevant components of frailty syndrome, with specific reference to: (i) sarcopenia, as a condition which frequently overlaps with frailty; (ii) functional impairment, considering the role of physical inactivity as one of the strongest predictors of physical disability in elders; (iii) cognitive performance, including evidence on how exercise and physical activity decrease the risk of early cognitive decline and poor cognition in late life; and (iv) depression by reviewing the effect of exercise on improving mood and increasing positive well-being.

Handgrip strength and physical activity in frail elderly

“…The loss of bone and muscle mass and consequent decrease in quality and musculoskeletal performance can lead to the frailty syndrome in old age, and disability and dependency, frequent falls and hospitalizations (5) .…”

“…Frailty is one of the most important reasons to prescribe physical exercise, as this is considered a protective factor against various components of the condition being studied (5) .…”

Associations between time spent in green areas and physical activity among late middle-aged adults

“…Aging is often associated with physical frailty and increased health problems (Rockwood et al, 2004;Landi et al, 2010). With increasing life expectancy and an expected increased number of middle-aged (45 to 65 years) and older adults (≥65 years) in the future, health care costs are expected to rise globally (Department of Health, 2004;OECD, 2006).…”

Motivating and assisting physical exercise in independently living older adults: A pilot study

“…Inactivity is at the origin of several chronic diseases [7]. Regular physical activity or exercise substantially prevents the development and progression of most chronic degenerative diseases [8][9][10], is of benefit to frail and older persons, and is the only therapy found to consistently improve sarcopenia, physical function, cognitive performance and mood in older adults [11]. For older people, a sedentary lifestyle also increases the risk of falls, whereas physically active older people have a reduced risk of falls with injuries [12][13][14].…”