Effectiveness of elastic resistance training in frail older adults on muscle strength and functionality levels: A systematic review.

A systematic review of elastic resistance training in frail older adults included four randomized controlled trials with 148 frail participants aged 65 years or older.

• The review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024582352).
• All four included studies were randomized controlled trials.
• Participants were aged 65 years or older and classified as frail.
• Total sample comprised 148 frail participants across the four trials.

Elastic band training interventions in frail older adults lasted between 12 and 28 weeks and included exercises with elastic bands, with or without nutritional education.

• Intervention duration ranged from 12 to 28 weeks.
• Some interventions were exercise-only while others combined exercise with nutritional education.
• Outcomes assessed included functionality, frailty status, muscle strength, physical fitness, cognition, quality of life, and endurance.

Significant improvements were observed in functionality, handgrip strength, and lower-limb strength following elastic band training.

• Improvements in functionality were among the significant outcomes reported.
• Both handgrip strength and lower-limb strength showed significant improvements.
• Improvements were particularly notable in programs with progressive intensity and longer duration.

Combined interventions of exercise plus nutritional education showed a greater impact in reducing frailty levels compared to exercise alone.

• The addition of nutritional education to elastic band exercise programs was associated with greater reductions in frailty.
• This finding suggests a synergistic effect of combining physical and nutritional interventions in frail older adults.

No significant changes in autonomy were observed following elastic band training interventions.

• Autonomy was one of the outcomes assessed but did not show significant improvement.
• This was in contrast to significant improvements seen in other outcomes such as strength and functionality.

The risk of bias was high in three of the four included studies.

• High risk of bias was identified in three out of four studies.
• The primary sources of bias were insufficient reporting of randomization procedures and missing outcome data.
• The high risk of bias limits the strength of conclusions that can be drawn from the review.

Elastic band training was concluded to be a safe, affordable, and feasible intervention for improving physical outcomes in frail older adults in community and institutional settings.

• The intervention was characterized as low-cost compared to other resistance training modalities.
• The authors support its implementation in both community and institutional settings.
• Further research with long-term follow-up and improved methodological quality was identified as needed.