Multicomponent physical exercise program among community-dwelling older adults who are users of home care services: a quasi-experimental pilot study.

Abstract

To analyze the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a multicomponent physical exercise program (MPEP) among community-dwelling older adults receiving home care services (HCS). A quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted with 44 participants allocated by preference for pragmatic considerations to MPEP or control group (NCT05726214, ClinicalTrails.gov). Over 16 weeks, the MPEP included strength, balance, flexibility, and aerobic exercises through one weekly physiotherapist-led face-to-face session plus two home-based Vivifrail (evidence-based multicomponent exercise program) sessions tailored to participants' functional level. Feasibility was assessed through recruitment, adherence, safety and acceptability. Physical performance; nutritional, psycho-affective and cognitive status; and frailty were measured at baseline and post-intervention. The completion rate was 77%. Face-to-face session attendance and compliance were 83% and 73%, respectively. At-home compliance was 71%. No severe adverse events occurred. Satisfaction was 9/10. Group-by-time analyses suggested improvements in the MPEP group for the Short Physical Performance Battery (η²ₚ=0.154) and Fried Frailty Scale (η²ₚ=0.164). Frailty decreased on both scales (OR = 0.142 and 0.125). No further significant effects were observed. The assessed intervention is feasible and suggests benefits in improving physical function and reducing frailty among older adults receiving HCS. Further robust studies, including explanatory and pragmatic randomised controlled trials are needed.