| Abstract: | Purpose: Evidence has shown that exercise interventions can improve frailty status. However, the exercise capacity of the frail aged is reduced, and they fatigue easily. The aim of this study is to record our practical experience of exercise interventions for five community-dwelling prefrail/frail elderly. Methods and Results: Participants included one frail elderly and four prefrail elderly (average age 85.7 years) who were excluded from a randomized control trial due to low cognitive status, leg length discrepancy after an accident, or low cardiac function. The interventions were conducted for one month, three times per week for 40 minutes each time, and included individually-tailored training for flexibility, muscle strength, cardiopulmonary fitness, and coordination and balance. T he exercise program was based on the suggestions of the American College of Sports Medicine. Three participants attended all 13 exercise sessions, one missed seven sessions due to vertigo after catching a cold, and one missed two sessions due to physical discomfort. One participant (Participant 5) frequently had a blood oxygen concentration below 90% and cyanosis, but was determined to exercise. We did not observe any adverse effects attributable to the exercises. No participant fulfilled the exercise prescriptions for muscle strengthening or cardiopulmonary training. After exercise, the Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale increased to 13-17, which was higher than the target value. However, the heart rate reserve percentage did not reach the target value, probably due to the use of anti-hypertensive medications. After exercise interventions, the number of frailty indicators decreased in three participants, especially in Participant 5 who showed two fewer frailty indicators. Conclusion: After only one month of exercise intervention, there was a trend toward improvement in frailty status. However, exercise programs prescribed for prefrail/frail elderly require flexibility and individualized modification. |
