Multicomponent exercise with power training: a vital intervention for frail older adults

Maintaining functional abilities is critical for healthy aging. Physical inactivity in older adults is linked to chronic diseases, functional declines, and increased risks of multimorbidity, falls, hospitalization, institutionalization, and mortality. Exercise interventions are essential to improve function and health in this population. Recent advancements highlight the importance of tailored exercise prescriptions, cost impacts, minimal effective power training doses, and multicomponent interventions such as the VIVIFRAIL program. This review emphasizes the significance of multicomponent exercise with power training in improving physical function in frail older adults. Resistance and power training alone may not enhance gait and balance, but a 12-week multicomponent program combining these elements significantly improves various physical and cognitive outcomes. Economic analyses demonstrate that such interventions reduce healthcare costs by decreasing hospitalizations. The VIVIFRAIL program successfully implements these approaches in community and healthcare settings, underscoring the positive impact on the well-being of older adults. Ongoing research and implementation of multicomponent exercise programs are vital for promoting health and independence in the aging population.