Effect of 12-Month Supervised, Home-Based Physical Exercise on Functioning Among Persons With Signs of Frailty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To investigate the effects of a 12-month home-based exercise program on functioning and falls among persons with signs of frailty. A randomized controlled trial with a 1:1 allocation. Home-based. Home-dwelling persons aged 65 years or older meeting at least 1 frailty phenotype criteria (N=300). The mean age of the participants was 82.2±6.3 years, 75% were women, 61% met 1-2 frailty criteria, and 39% met ≥3 criteria. A 12-month, individually tailored, progressive, and physiotherapist-supervised physical exercise twice a week (n=150) vs usual care (n=149). FIM, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), handgrip strength, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and self-reported falls and physical activity (other than intervention). Assessed 4 times at home over 12 months. FIM deteriorated in both groups over 12 months, −4.1 points (95% confidence interval [CI], −5.6 to −2.5) in the exercise group and −6.9 (95% CI, −8.4 to −2.3) in the usual care group (group P=.014, time P