Effects of physical exercise intervention on improving physical functioning and quality of life among geriatric population: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of exercise intervention on elderly population's physical functioning and quality of life. Methods: The systematic review was conducted in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses guidelines, and comprised research on Cochrane Library, PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database and Web of Science for randomised controlled trials published in the English language from January 2012 to December 2021. The trials included comprised individuals of either gender aged ≥60 years who were either community-dwelling elderly or patients living in residential facilities who could walk independently with or without assistive devices. Key words used for the search included age, exercise, physical function, quality of life and cognition. A 10-point scale from the Physiotherapy Evidence Database was used for methodological evaluation. RESULTS: Of the 1050 studies initially found, 14(1.33%) were analysed in detail. All 14(100%) included multi-component exercise interventions, like aerobic, strength and balance, 4(28.6%) trials included cognition and quality of life as well. Only 1(7.14%) trial showed little or no improvement in terms of quality of life. Of the 2(14.3%) studies that reported the effects of exercise on falls, 1(50%) found positive impact of exercise interventions, while 1(50%) showed no improvement on the risk of fall and psychosocial factors related to fall. Overall, 9(64.3%) trials investigated the effects of exercise training on several aspects of mobility, and showed marked improvement in mobility. Also, 8(57.14%) trials studied the effect of exercise intervention on balance performance, and 1(12.5%) of them showed no effect on balance. Of the 9(64.3%) trials investigating the effects of exercise intervention on muscle strength, 5(55.5%) reported increase in muscle strength. Conclusion: Multi-component exercises were found to have a positive impact on functional and psychosocial health of geriatric population.

Effects of supervised structured aerobic exercise training programme on level of Exertion, dyspnoea, VO2 max and Body Mass Index in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of supervised structured aerobic exercise training programme on level of exertion, dyspnoea, maximum oxygen consumption, and body mass index in type 2 diabetics. METHODS: The randomised, controlled trial was carried out at Riphah Rehabilitation and Research Centre, Islamic International medical College Trust, Pakistan Railways General Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January 2015 to June 2016, and comprised type 2 diabetics. Sedentary individuals of both genders, aged40-70 years, diagnosed on World Health Organisation's criteria were included. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, i.e. A (experimental) and B (control), by toss and trial method. Intervention in the experimental group were supervised structured aerobic exercise training programme, routine medication and dietary, while the control group was treated by routine medication and dietary plan for 25 weeks at 3 days per week for both groups. Level of exertion, dyspnoea, maximum oxygen consumption and body mass index were assessed and documented at baseline (0 week) and at the completion of intervention (after 25 weeks). SPSS20 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 102 participants, there were 51(50%) in each group. Pre- and post-intervention analysis showed that a 25-week training programme, routine medication, and dietary plan significantly improved level of exertion, dyspnoea, maximum oxygen consumption and body mass index (p<0.05)) in the experimental group compared to the control group treated with routine medication, and dietary plan. CONCLUSIONS: The supervised structured aerobic exercise training programme along with routine medication and dietary plan positively influenced level of exertion, dyspnoea, maximum oxygen consumption and body mass index than routine medication and dietary plan in patients with type 2 diabetes.