Page 15 - IJPS-11-1

International Journal of
Population Studies Exercise and frailty in older adults

exercise interventions for frailty over the past two decades policymakers remains limited but could enhance the
(Shamliyan et al., 2013). The findings offer valuable insights relevance and application of research findings.
to inform future research directions and translation of
evidence into policy and practice. The rapid growth in 5. Conclusions
publications in recent years highlights a rising interest in The bibliometric analysis conducted in this review
this area, corresponding to the global increase in frailty provides a comprehensive overview of the global research
prevalence (Hui et al., 2022). However, research remains landscape on exercise interventions for frailty over the
concentrated in a handful of productive countries and past four decades. The findings reveal a rapidly growing
institutions, primarily in Europe, North America, and East publication output, especially since 2010, signaling
Asia. Targeted efforts to expand capacity, particularly in heightened research interest amid accelerating population
South Asia, Africa, and South America, through research aging worldwide. However, research activity remains
networks and collaborations could enhance the global concentrated within a select group of productive countries,
evidence base (Li et al., 2016). such as the USA, China, Japan, Spain, and Italy, with most
The analysis of leading journals revealed that research on leading institutions located in Europe, North America, and
frailty (Seldeen et al., 2022) and exercise is predominantly East Asia. Expanding collaborative networks to include
published in niche gerontology, rehabilitation, and underrepresented regions such as South Asia, Africa, and
geriatrics sources. As further supported by Welstead et al. South America could strengthen the global evidence base.
(2020), the main global research topics in geriatrics and Five major knowledge clusters emerged, focusing
gerontology are older adults, education and training, and on frailty assessment, clinical trials, cognition, exercise
adults aged 80 years and older. Increasing visibility in high- protocols, and physical function outcomes. While
impact general and sports medicine journals could elevate quantitative studies evaluating exercise impacts on
the profile and multidisciplinary reach of this research functional measures such as strength, mobility, and
(Neto et al., 2023). In addition, higher interdisciplinarity falls have been widely conducted, qualitative research
in research fronts is significantly associated with a 20% exploring patient perspectives and implementation
increase in research impact (Okamura, 2019). barriers is lacking. Incorporating mixed methods and
Bibliometric indicators also suggest that there is scope patient-reported outcomes, such as quality of life, could
to improve the impact and dissemination of publications provide a more comprehensive understanding to optimize
through open-access platforms, social media engagement, interventions.
and integrated knowledge translation approaches From a clinical perspective, synthesizing evidence on
(Fetscherin & Heinrich, 2015). The five knowledge effective exercise modalities, intensities, and progressions
clusters identified in this analysis offer a conceptual tailored to frailty phenotypes can guide patient-centered
map, highlighting research emphases on assessment, prescriptions. However, translating research into
clinical trials, cognition, exercise protocols, and physical practice remains challenging due to limited economic
outcomes. However, qualitative research, psychosocial analyses, implementation studies, and integrated
factors, economic analysis, implementation strategies, knowledge translation efforts involving key stakeholders.
and translational dimensions appear to be understudied Cost-effectiveness data will also be crucial to drive
(Rahayu et al., 2021; Sarkies et al., 2021). Addressing these reimbursement policies and the widespread adoption of
evidence gaps could accelerate the translation of research frailty exercise programs by health-care providers.
into policy and practice.
Moving forward, priorities for future research should
The exploration of emerging hotspots, such as
technology-enabled interventions and pre-frailty address identified gaps in qualitative contexts, psychosocial
prevention, also warrants more attention (Gené Huguet impacts, health economics, implementation strategies, and
integrated knowledge translation. Exploring emerging
et al., 2018; Mugueta-Aguinaga & Garcia-Zapirain, 2017; areas such as technology-enabled exercise delivery,
Tan et al., 2022). While country- and institution-level cognitive training, nutritional co-interventions, pre-frailty
collaborations are evident, cross-cluster partnerships
between leading, novice, and underrepresented research prevention, and risk-stratified protocols based on frailty
hubs could introduce new perspectives. South-South profiles is also warranted. International research consortia
networking beyond regional clusters could further can accelerate multi-center studies and open data-sharing
strengthen global frailty research capacity (Wu, 2023). to generate robust, globally representative evidence.
In addition, integrated knowledge translation involving Ultimately, continued multidisciplinary collaboration,
co-production with patients, practitioners, and harnessing expertise across geriatrics, rehabilitation,

Volume 11 Issue 1 (2025) 9 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.3282