Effects of Radio-Taiso on Health-related Quality of Life in Older Adults With Frailty: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Radio-Taiso, a long-standing exercise program in Japan, could be a sustainable public health strategy for maintaining quality of life (QoL) in older adults with frailty. This study aimed to investigate whether Radio-Taiso provided greater benefits for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to identify the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness in this population. Methods: A 12-week randomized controlled trial enrolled 226 older Japanese adults with pre-frailty or frailty, assessed using the modified frailty phenotype. Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention (Radio-Taiso + nutrition program) or control (nutrition program) groups. The Radio-Taiso program comprised five 60-min group sessions and daily practice at the participants’ homes. The primary outcome was the change in the mental domain of HRQoL, assessed using the SF-36®. The secondary outcomes included six physical fitness items and exercise self-efficacy. Results: Overall, 104 and 105 participants in the intervention and control groups, respectively, were analyzed based on the intention-to-treat principle. The median daily practice rate of Radio-Taiso was 94.1% (interquartile range, 73.2–98.8%). Although general linear models adjusted for baseline values and allocation stratification factors showed that the intervention group obtained greater benefits (adjusted mean differences) in the up-and-go (0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1 to 0.6 s), 2-min step-in-place (−3.2; 95% CI, −6.2 to −0.2 steps) tests, and exercise self-efficacy scale (−1.4; 95% CI, −2.6 to −0.1 points) than the control group, there were no group differences in changes in the mental domain score of HRQoL. Conclusion: Radio-Taiso provided greater benefits for agility/dynamic balance, aerobic endurance, and exercise self-efficacy in older adults with frailty; however, these changes do not improve HRQoL.

Keywords

• exercise
• patient-reported outcome
• randomized controlled trial
• multi-component physical activity