Concepts for exercise therapy in prehabilitation for elderly people with frailty or pre-frailty prior to elective surgery. A scoping review.

Nils Drewniok, Jörn Kiselev, Nils Daum, Rudolf Mörgeli, Claudia Spies, Stefan J Schaller

Journal: Journal of bodywork and movement therapies 2023;36():74-82

PMID: 37949603

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Frailty is a state of reduced functional capacities in older people that can be reversed through multimodal therapy concepts. The effect of preoperative prehabilitation on frailty has been examined, but the heterogeneity of exercise regimens has prevented conclusive evidence. This scoping review analyses prehabilitation interventions, particularly exercise methods, published in trials for prefrail and frail elderly patients.

METHOD

We identified studies evaluating prehabilitation for frail elderly using the framework of Arksey and O'Malley. Five scientific databases were searched until March 2022. Articles were screened by two independent reviewers. Data extraction included, but was not limited to, study design, intervention protocol of the prehabilitation including exercise therapy and additional interventions, and safety of the reported exercise concepts.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies were included, offering an insight into the utilized prehabilitation concepts for exercise. All study interventions were based around exercise programs, potentially with complementary interventions. Twelve studies based their exercise programs on a combination of endurance and strength training. Breathing exercises were prescribed in five studies, flexibility routines in five, and one study included balance training. Further interventions included nutritional counselling/supplementation in nine studies, smoking/alcohol cessation in five, in addition to two physiological and three medical/pharmaceutical interventions.

DISCUSSION

Prehabilitation for the frail elderly is safe and feasible. The general concept of prehabiliation for frail patients is promising. An exercise program should focus on improving the patient's endurance and strength, considering the positive effects that can be provided by breathing exercises and other additional interventions, such as nutritional support or lifestyle counselling.

Address: Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine (CCM, CVK), Berlin, Germany.; Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine (CCM, CVK), Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.05.004

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MeSH Terms: Humans, Aged, Frailty, Preoperative Exercise, Exercise Therapy, Exercise, Frail Elderly