Exercise Prescription & Programming

Frailty is most often defined as an aging-related syndrome of physiological decline, characterized by marked vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. There are different ways to assess it and there does not appear to be a gold standard. It is often associated with advanced aging, multiple co-morbidities or conditions such as ESRD, COPD, dementia.

In group settings such as cardiac rehabilitation, how do you tailor your rehabilitation services to this population?

Here is a thought provoking podcast that you might find interesting.

https://www.springermedicine.com/prevention-and-rehabilitation-in-cardiology/frailty-in-geriatric-patients/cardiac-rehabilitation-in-patients-with-frailty/27128438?utm_source=Update&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SMEDCOM_NL_UPDATE_INTERNAL_MEDICINE&utm_content=Preparing%20for%20the%20revolution%20in%20Alzheimer%27s%20disease&utm_term=2024-06-07&fulltextView=true&tid=TIDP2983589X9E1CE06B5C254A44977E18DB1AC38753YI4

I'm sure that you have seen Fried's phenotype of Frailty; here's more on pre-frailty:

The Mediterranean Diet Slows Down the Progression of Aging and Helps to Prevent the Onset of Frailty: A Narrative Review. Capurso C, Bellanti F, Lo Buglio A, Vendemiale G.

Nutrients. 2020; 12(1):35. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010035

Here are some criteria from Fried

Pre-frailty factors in community-dwelling 40–75 year olds: opportunities for successful ageing S. J. Gordon, N. Baker, M. Kidd, A. Maeder & K. A. Grimmer BMC Geriatrics volume 20, Article number: 96 (2020) 

The challenge is to pre-empt the whole darn syndrome. Functional strength & power are the main priorities even in CR programs; Thriving in place is key!

Pat.