A feasibility study on physical therapist interventions in the Japanese integrated health services and preventive care program for older adults.
Yuta Mori, Ryota Watanabe, Koichi Saito and 5 others
PMID 39624352WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults attended a 6-month community program led by physical therapists, with high completion and improved sit-to-stand speed.
However, there was no change in frailty rates, grip strength, or walking speed. The program was feasible, but evidence for physical function benefits beyond sit-to-stand is lacking.
Key findings
01The five-times-sit-to-stand test showed a statistically significant improvement in the overall group and the pre-frailty/frailty subgroup.
02There was no change in the proportion of participants classified as frail, and no statistical improvement was found for grip strength, walking speed, or balance.
03The program was feasible with a low dropout rate, and most participants reported understanding frailty prevention, though home exercise compliance was difficult to maintain.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
No control group was used, so natural changes over time cannot be ruled out. The study was not preregistered. Home exercise compliance was not objectively verified. Baseline frailty understanding was not measured, so changes in knowledge could not be calculated. Twelve participants were excluded from the final analysis, which may have overestimated the results.
Declared interests
None declared. The study was supported by a KAKENHI Grant.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the improvement in sit-to-stand time as evidence that the program prevents frailty or improves overall physical function. The primary measure of frailty status did not change, and other key functional outcomes like walking speed and grip strength showed no significant improvement.