Nomura T, Nagano K, Takato J, Ueki S, Matsuzaki Y, Yasumura S. The development of a Tai Chi exercise regimen for the prevention of conditions requiring long-term care in Japan. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2011;52(3):e198–203.
Reason for exclusion: Methodological appraisal value below minimum cut-off score. It was unclear whether the outcomes were measured in a reliable way. The study authors did not describe and did not include in the analysis the outcomes of people who withdrew. The critical appraisal items related with randomization, blinding, allocation and comparability of the groups were not considered as the study was conducted with one group only.
De Vries N, van Ravensberg CD, Hobbelen JS, van der Wees PJ, Olde Rikkert MG, Staal JB, et al. The Coach2Move Approach: Development and Acceptability of an Individually Tailored Physical Therapy Strategy to Increase Activity Levels in Older Adults With Mobility Problems. J Geriatr Phys Ther. 2015;38(4):169–82. Reason for exclusion: Methodological appraisal value below minimum cut-off score. It was unclear whether the outcomes were measured in a reliable way and whether the appropriate statistical analysis were used. The critical appraisal items related with randomization, blinding, allocation and comparability of the groups were not considered as the study was conducted with one group only.
Before and after studies
Sugimoto H, Demura S, Nagasawa Y, Shimomura M. Changes in the physical functions of pre-frail elderly women after participation in a 1-year preventative exercise program. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2014;14(4):975–82. Reason for exclusion: Methodological appraisal value below minimum cut-off score. The composition of the study groups was intentionally different (healthy and pre-frail participants), thus all the critical appraisal items related with randomization, allocation and comparability of the groups were rated negatively. It was unclear whether the appropriate statistical analysis were used.
Yamada M, Arai H, Uemura K, Mori S, Nagai K, Tanaka B, et al. Effect of resistance training on physical performance and fear of falling in elderly with different levels of physical well-being. Age Ageing. 2011;40(5): 637–41.
Reason for exclusion: Methodological appraisal value below minimum cut-off score. The composition of the study groups was intentionally different (robust and frail participants), thus all the critical appraisal items related with randomization, allocation and comparability of the groups were rated negatively. The outcomes of people who withdrew were not described and included in the analysis. It was unclear whether the outcomes were measured in a reliable way.
Pseudo-randomized control trial (two groups)
Yamada M, Arai H, Sonoda T, Aoyama T. Community-based exercise program is cost-effective by preventing care and disability in Japanese frail older adults. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2012;13(6):507–11. Reason for exclusion: In addition to lack of group randomization there was unclear information about allocation and blinding procedures, and insufficient data about tools used for the outcomes assessment. It was also unclear whether the groups were treated identically other than for the named interventions.
Randomized controlled trials
Binder E, Schechtman KB, Ehsani AA, Steger-May K, Brown M, Sinacore DR, et al. Effects of exercise training on frailty in community-dwelling older adults: results of a randomized, controlled trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002;50(12):1921–8.
Reason for exclusion: Not all outcomes were measured in the same way for all groups. There was also unclear information about allocation and blinding procedures, and about the treatment of groups other than for the named interventions.
Chin A Paw MJM, de Jong N, Schouten EG, Hiddink GJ, Kok FJ. Physical exercise and/or enriched foods for functional improvement in frail, independently living elderly: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001;82(6):811–7.
Reason for exclusion: Those assessing outcomes were not blind to treatment allocation. In addition, it was unclear if the assignment to treatment group was truly random, if participants were blinded to treatment allocation, if the allocation to treatment group was concealed from the allocator, if the outcomes of people who withdrew were described and included in the analysis, and if the groups were treated identically other than for the named interventions.
Kono A, Kanaya Y, Fujita T, Tsumura C, Kondo T, Kushiyama K, et al. Effects of a preventive home visit program in ambulatory frail older people: A randomized controlled trial. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2012;67(3):302–9.
Reason for exclusion: The outcomes were not measured in a reliable way. There was unclear information about allocation and blinding procedures. In addition, it was unclear if the outcomes of people who withdrew were described and included in the analysis and if the control and treatment groups were comparable at entry.
Kwon J, Yoshida Y, Yoshida H, Kim H, Suzuki T, Lee Y. Effects of a combined physical training and nutrition intervention on physical performance and health-related quality of life in prefrail older women living in the community: A randomized controlled trial. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2015;16(3):263e1–8. Reason for exclusion: The outcomes of people who withdrew were not described and included in the analysis. It was unclear if the assignment to treatment group was truly random, if participants were blinded to treatment allocation, if the allocation to treatment group was concealed from the allocator, if the groups were treated identically other than for the named interventions, and if the outcomes were measured in a reliable way.
Manor B, Lough M, Gagnon MM, Cupples A, Wayne PM, Lipsitz LA. Functional benefits of Tai Chi training within senior housing facilities. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014;62(8):1484–9.
Reason for exclusion: The outcomes of people who withdrew were not described and included in the analysis, and the control and treatment groups were not comparable at entry. It was unclear if the assignment to treatment group was truly random, if participants were blinded to treatment allocation, if the allocation to treatment group was concealed from the allocator, and if the groups were treated identically other than for the named interventions. It was also unclear whether the statistical analysis used was appropriate (the authors used the parametric statistical tests in samples with n < 30, without reference to meeting the assumptions underlying these tests).
Rydwik E, Lammes E, Fra¨ndin K, Akner G. Effects of a physical and nutritional intervention program for frail elderly people over age 75. A randomized controlled pliot treatment trial. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2008;20(2):159–170.
Reason for exclusion: The allocation to treatment groups was not concealed from the allocator, and the control and treatment groups were not comparable at entry. It was unclear if the assignment to treatment group was truly random, if participants and those assessing outcomes were blinded to treatment allocation, if the groups were treated identically other than for the named interventions, and if the outcomes were measured in a reliable way.