Effects of the Otago Exercise Program in older hypertensive patients with pre-frailty.
Xia Qin, Yong Mao, Hongmei Wang and 3 others
PMID 35784605WHAT IT FOUND
Twelve weeks of the Otago Exercise Program improved frailty scores, gait speed, and balance in older adults with hypertension and pre-frailty.
However, it did not significantly lower systolic blood pressure compared to routine walking, and diastolic blood pressure changes showed only a modest difference between groups.
Key findings
01The Otago Exercise Program significantly improved FRAIL scale scores, 10-meter gait speed, one-leg standing time, and functional reach compared to the control group after 12 weeks.
02There was no significant difference in systolic blood pressure between the intervention and control groups after the intervention.
03Diastolic blood pressure decreased more in the Otago group than in the control group, a statistically significant difference.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study had a high dropout rate (15 of 75 participants withdrew), which may introduce bias. The sample was predominantly female (two-thirds), which may limit generalizability to male patients. Lower limb muscle strength was not directly measured, so the specific mechanism of improvement is inferred rather than confirmed. The control group received routine walking advice, which is an active intervention, potentially masking the specific benefits of the OEP components.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the improvement in diastolic blood pressure as evidence that the OEP is an effective standalone treatment for hypertension. The primary systolic outcome showed no significant difference between groups, and the diastolic change was modest compared to standard medical management.