Testing a Personalized Physical Exercise Program in Primary Care to Improve Fitness and Quality of Life for Adults 65 and Older in a Rural Area

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a Physical Exercise Prescription Program designed for adults aged 65 years and older who lead a sedentary lifestyle. This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of an individualized exercise plan against standard health advice to walk briskly for at least 30 minutes daily. The study also investigates how polypharmacy relates to muscle function, physical performance, and quality of life in this population. The intervention group participates in a structured 12-week exercise program tailored through a detailed baseline assessment of physical fitness, muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical activity levels. This plan includes aerobic exercise, strength training with elastic bands, respiratory exercises using pressure-based devices, flexibility routines, and balance training. A certified Exercise Technician supervises and adjusts the program. The control group receives routine advice to walk briskly daily without a structured plan. Participants will undergo assessments at the start and after three months, including measurements of muscle strength, aerobic capacity, muscle mass, physical activity level, and quality of life using validated tests and questionnaires. Data will be managed anonymously, and the effects of the intervention on physical fitness and quality of life, including sex-specific differences, will be analyzed. Total participation spans the 12-week intervention with follow-up evaluation at three months.

Effectiveness of a Physical Exercise Prescription Program in Primary Care for Adults Aged 65 and Older: PREFIS-AP