BACKGROUND: Preservation of mobility independence is a primary goal in older adults with physical frailty and sarcopenia (PF&S). Interventions based on the combination of physical activity (PA) and nutritional counselling have been indicated as strategies for the management of this condition, although their effectiveness is not confirmed in all investigations. A possible explanation for this uncertain scenario relies in the impact of the adherence to PA interventions. Hence, the present study investigated the impact of the adherence to PA sessions on the incidence of mobility disability in older adults with PF&S. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of an evaluator blinded, randomised controlled trial, developed in 16 clinical sites across 11 European countries, from January 2016 to 31 October 2019. Participants were community-dwelling older adults (70+ years) with PF&S enrolled in the SPRINTT trial (NCT02582138). PF&S was operationalised as having a total score from 3 to 9 on the short physical performance battery (SPPB), low appendicular lean mass and ability to complete the 400-m walk test in < 15 min. Data from participants allocated to a multicomponent intervention (PA with technological support plus nutritional counselling) and a healthy ageing lifestyle education programme (control group) were analysed. Adherence to PA was assessed based on the number of weekly sessions attended. According to recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine, adherence was categorised as below recommendations (< 2 sessions/week, BR), meeting recommendations (2-3 sessions/week, MR), and above recommendations (> 3 sessions/week, AR). The primary outcome was incident mobility disability, operationalised as incident inability to complete the 400-m walk test in < 15 min during up to 36 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Data of 1444 participants (mean age 79.3 years, 72.6% women) were analysed. In those with SPPB scores of 3-7, MR and AR groups had lower risk of mobility disability compared with controls [MR HR (95% CI): 0.57 (0.41-0.78), p = 0.001; AR HR (95% CI): 0.33 (0.23-0.46), p < 0.001] and BR groups [MR: HR (95% CI): 0.48 (0.34-0.69), p < 0.001; AR: HR (95% CI): 0.27 (0.18-0.38), p < 0.001] in a dose-dependent manner. In those with SPPB scores of 8 or 9, the BR group had a higher risk of mobility disability than controls. MR and AR groups had a lower risk of mobility disability than the BR group. CONCLUSIONS: In older adults with PF&S, adherence to PA recommendations is associated with lower incidence of mobility disability. This benefit depends on the degree of adherence as well as baseline physical performance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02582138.

• Keywords
• disability, frailty, frequency, physical activity, sarcopenia,
• MeSH
• Exercise * physiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mobility Limitation * MeSH
• Persons with Disabilities MeSH
• Sarcopenia * physiopathology   therapy   MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH
• Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a multicomponent intervention based on physical activity with technological support and nutritional counselling prevents mobility disability in older adults with physical frailty and sarcopenia. DESIGN: Evaluator blinded, randomised controlled trial. SETTING: 16 clinical sites across 11 European countries, January 2016 to 31 October 2019. PARTICIPANTS: 1519 community dwelling men and women aged 70 years or older with physical frailty and sarcopenia, operationalised as the co-occurrence of low functional status, defined as a short physical performance battery (SPPB) score of 3 to 9, low appendicular lean mass, and ability to independently walk 400 m. 760 participants were randomised to a multicomponent intervention and 759 received education on healthy ageing (controls). INTERVENTIONS: The multicomponent intervention comprised moderate intensity physical activity twice weekly at a centre and up to four times weekly at home. Actimetry data were used to tailor the intervention. Participants also received personalised nutritional counselling. Control participants received education on healthy ageing once a month. Interventions and follow-up lasted for up to 36 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was mobility disability (inability to independently walk 400 m in <15 minutes). Persistent mobility disability (inability to walk 400 m on two consecutive occasions) and changes from baseline to 24 and 36 months in physical performance, muscle strength, and appendicular lean mass were analysed as pre-planned secondary outcomes. Primary comparisons were conducted in participants with baseline SPPB scores of 3-7 (n=1205). Those with SPPB scores of 8 or 9 (n=314) were analysed separately for exploratory purposes. RESULTS: Mean age of the 1519 participants (1088 women) was 78.9 (standard deviation 5.8) years. The average follow-up was 26.4 (SD 9.5) months. Among participants with SPPB scores of 3-7, mobility disability occurred in 283/605 (46.8%) assigned to the multicomponent intervention and 316/600 (52.7%) controls (hazard ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.67 to 0.92; P=0.005). Persistent mobility disability occurred in 127/605 (21.0%) participants assigned to the multicomponent intervention and 150/600 (25.0%) controls (0.79, 0.62 to 1.01; P=0.06). The between group difference in SPPB score was 0.8 points (95% confidence interval 0.5 to 1.1 points; P<0.001) and 1.0 point (95% confidence interval 0.5 to 1.6 points; P<0.001) in favour of the multicomponent intervention at 24 and 36 months, respectively. The decline in handgrip strength at 24 months was smaller in women assigned to the multicomponent intervention than to control (0.9 kg, 95% confidence interval 0.1 to 1.6 kg; P=0.028). Women in the multicomponent intervention arm lost 0.24 kg and 0.49 kg less appendicular lean mass than controls at 24 months (95% confidence interval 0.10 to 0.39 kg; P<0.001) and 36 months (0.26 to 0.73 kg; P<0.001), respectively. Serious adverse events occurred in 237/605 (39.2%) participants assigned to the multicomponent intervention and 216/600 (36.0%) controls (risk ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 0.94 to 1.26). In participants with SPPB scores of 8 or 9, mobility disability occurred in 46/155 (29.7%) in the multicomponent intervention and 38/159 (23.9%) controls (hazard ratio 1.25, 95% confidence interval 0.79 to 1.95; P=0.34). CONCLUSIONS: A multicomponent intervention was associated with a reduction in the incidence of mobility disability in older adults with physical frailty and sarcopenia and SPPB scores of 3-7. Physical frailty and sarcopenia may be targeted to preserve mobility in vulnerable older people. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02582138.

• MeSH
• Frailty * MeSH
• Frail Elderly MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Independent Living MeSH
• Sarcopenia * prevention & control   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Hand Strength MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH

One of the most widely conserved hallmarks of aging is a decline in functional capabilities. Mobility loss is particularly burdensome due to its association with negative health outcomes, loss of independence and disability, and the heavy impact on quality of life. Recently, a new condition, physical frailty and sarcopenia, has been proposed to define a critical stage in the disabling cascade. Physical frailty and sarcopenia are characterized by weakness, slowness, and reduced muscle mass, yet with preserved ability to move independently. One of the strategies that have shown some benefits in combatting mobility loss and its consequences for older adults is physical activity. Here, we describe the opportunities and challenges for the development of physical activity interventions in people with physical frailty and sarcopenia. The aim of this article is to review age-related physio(patho)logical changes that impact mobility in old age and to provide recommendations and procedures in accordance with the available literature.

• Keywords
• balance, better aging, muscle mass, physical exercise, strength, walking,
• MeSH
• Exercise physiology   MeSH
• Frailty physiopathology   rehabilitation   MeSH
• Frail Elderly statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Quality of Life MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Postural Balance physiology   MeSH
• Sarcopenia physiopathology   rehabilitation   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Aging physiology   MeSH
• Accidental Falls prevention & control   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH