Effects of home-based exercise training on physical fitness and functionality in sedentary older adults

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of home-based exercise training on physical fitness and functionality in sedentary older adults under the supervision of a physiotherapist. The study was carried out on 32 sedentary elderly individuals aged 65 years and older. The individuals were randomly divided into two groups: exercise training group under the supervision of a physiotherapist (n=16, mean age: 68,25±4,89) and control group (n=16, mean age: 73,31±5,71). The individuals in the exercise training group were trained with the exercise program consisting of strengthening, flexibility, endurance and balance exercises under the supervision of a physiotherapist for 8 weeks, 3 days a week, 45 minutes in a session. The exercises were supervised face-to-face for 1 session per week and 2 sessions by phone call. The control group were suggested for 8 weeks, 3 days a week of warm-up exercises and 30-minutes walking, however physiotherapist supervision was not performed as in the exercise group. Physical fitness level of individuals with "Senior Fitness Test"; balance level with "Berg Balance Scale"; functional mobility level was evaluated with the "Timed Up and Go Test" and fear of falling with the "Tinetti Falls Efficacy Scale". Evaluations were performed before and after training program. In the post-training intra-group comparisons, there were significant improvements in all sub-parameters of Senior Fitness Test, Berg Balance Scale score, Timed Up and Go Test score, and Tinetti Falls Efficacy Scale score in the exercise group (p<0.05). In the control group, there was significant improvement in only 8-Foot Up and Go Test (p<0.05). In the post-training inter-group comparisons, significant improvement was observed in all sub-parameters of the Senior Fitness Test, Berg Balance Scale score, Timed Up and Go Test score, Tinetti Falls Efficacy Scale score in the exercise group compared to the control group. Physiotherapist-supervised home-based exercise training had been positive effects on physical fitness, balance, functional mobility and fear of falling in older adults. We think that more studies are needed to investigate the effects of home-based exercise programs in these days when the concept of active and healthy aging and home care services are increasingly important. Keywords: Exercise, Physical Fitness, Health, Older, Aging. Approved by Baskent University Institutional Review Board and Ethics Committee. (Project no: KA2020/116).