Exercise‐based physiotherapeutic interventions in frailty syndrome: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract Objective To identify the effect of exercise interventions on physical frailty in community‐dwelling older adults. Methods Relevant articles were searched in MEDLINE, LILACS, Scielo, Embase, and PEDro in November 2022, based on a protocol registered in PROSPERO and according to items prescribed in Report for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses, using Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) and free terms for search strategy, with no language restrictions. The studies were considered if they had been published between January 2010 and November 2022, and were randomized clinical trials in which pre‐frail and frail older community‐dwelling adults had undergone exercise‐based physical therapy. Results The systematic review found 5360 citations; after screening, abstract, and full‐text screening for eligibility, seven studies were included, involving 1304 participants overall. The exercise modalities differed substantially between studies. The meta‐analysis identified a statistically significant difference in frailty between older adults who exercised compared with those who exercised with no or minimal intervention. No heterogeneity between articles was observed, and the risk of bias was considered low according to funnel plot visual inspection. Conclusions The results of this review suggest that physical therapy programs are effective in decreasing levels of physical frailty in community‐dwelling older adults.