Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible for inclusion.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies that evaluated an intervention that included some form of exercise were eligible for inclusion. The review classified interventions as short-term (less than 6 months) and longer term (6 months or longer). In all of the included studies, exercise programmes comprised one or more components of strength, endurance, balance and flexibility; one study used a combination of exercise and nutrition as the experimental intervention. The control interventions were a variety of non-exercise interventions including social group, usual care, reminiscence therapy, nutritional supplements, friendly visits and health education. The duration of the interventions ranged from 8 weeks to 15 months; their frequency was three times a week in half of the studies.
Participants included in the review
Studies involving men or women aged 50 years or older who were living in institutional care settings were eligible for inclusion. In the included studies, the participants lived in mental institutions, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, residential homes and sheltered accommodation. The mean age of the participants ranged from 69 to 90 years. Most of the studies included both male and female participants; one study included only men, while another included only women.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Studies that assessed any of the following outcomes were eligible for inclusion: muscle strength, chair-rise time, balance, gait or gait speed, falls, mobility, functional ability, endurance and flexibility. The included studies measured strength in different muscles (mainly leg and handgrip strength).
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.