The Effectiveness of a Hybrid Exercise Program on the Physical Fitness of Frail Elderly

Ziyi Wang, Deyu Meng, Shichun He, Hongzhi Guo, Zhibo Tian, Meiqi Wei, Guang Yang () and Ziheng Wang ()
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Ziyi Wang: Chinese Center of Exercise Epidemiology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
Deyu Meng: Chinese Center of Exercise Epidemiology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
Shichun He: Chinese Center of Exercise Epidemiology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
Hongzhi Guo: Graduate School of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa 169-8050, Japan
Zhibo Tian: College of Physical Education and Health, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541006, China
Meiqi Wei: Chinese Center of Exercise Epidemiology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
Guang Yang: Chinese Center of Exercise Epidemiology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
Ziheng Wang: Chinese Center of Exercise Epidemiology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-15

Abstract: Background: Frailty is a serious physical disorder affecting the elderly all over the world. However, the frail elderly have low physical fitness, which limits the effectiveness of current exercise programs. Inspired by this, we attempted to integrate Baduanjin and strength and endurance exercises into an exercise program to improve the physical fitness and alleviate frailty among the elderly. Additionally, to achieve the goals of personalized medicine, machine learning simulations were performed to predict post-intervention frailty. Methods: A total of 171 frail elderly individuals completed the experiment, including a Baduanjin group (BDJ), a strength and endurance training group (SE), and a combination of Baduanjin and strength and endurance training group (BDJSE), which lasted for 24 weeks. Physical fitness was evaluated by 10-meter maximum walk speed (10 m MWS), grip strength, the timed up-and-go test (TUGT), and the 6 min walk test (6 min WT). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square test, and two-way repeated-measures ANOVA were carried out to analyze the experimental data. In addition, nine machine learning models were utilized to predict the frailty status after the intervention. Results: In 10 m MWS and TUGT, there was a significant interactive influence between group and time. When comparing the BDJ group and the SE group, participants in the BDJSE group demonstrated the maximum gains in 10 m MWS and TUGT after 24 weeks of intervention. The stacking model surpassed other algorithms in performance. The accuracy and precision rates were 75.5% and 77.1%, respectively. Conclusion: The hybrid exercise program that combined Baduanjin with strength and endurance training proved more effective at improving fitness and reversing frailty in elderly individuals. Based on the stacking model, it is possible to predict whether an elderly person will exhibit reversed frailty following an exercise program.

Keywords: frail; Baduanjin; strength training; endurance training; Explainable Artificial Intelligence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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