2026-10-08T22:27:44Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34034260 2026-09-30T17:22:15Z category_7 category_16 category_45 category_734 category_61 category_106 portal_5 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

<p>Participant Demographics.</p> Margaret Danilovich (17139892) Daniel S. Rubin (21728422) David E. Conroy (5736782) Laura Diaz (14670788) Ying Cheung (25144975) Daniel Corcos (25144978) Lauren Balmert Bonner (25144981) Medicine Physiology Sociology Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Developmental Biology Science Policy promote healthy aging minute walk test median completed sessions least 10 feet increased physiologic stimuli heart rate maximum fourteen retirement communities berg balance scale 19 – 7 1 – 76 determine whether high supervised walking sessions frailty category occurred secondary outcomes included recruited 165 prefrail >) registered 10 6mwt ), measured csw group walked optimal walking intensity speed walking due high intensity vs 03 – 0 div >< p randomized trial demonstrates intensity walking speed walking ci 1 blinded trial 6mwt distance gait speed reverse frailty reduce frailty improves frailty hrmax ), selected speeds reducing disability primary outcome older adults moderate assistance intensive activity improving quality hiw vs hispanic white common form ci 21 analytic cohort 45 minutes 16 weeks <div><p>Interventions to reduce frailty and promote healthy aging are critical to improving quality of life and reducing disability in older adults. Walking is the most common form of exercise among older adults; however, the optimal walking intensity for prefrail and frail adults remains unclear. We conducted a cluster-randomized, assessor- and participant-blinded trial to determine whether high-intensity walking (HIW) improves frailty more than casual-speed walking (CSW). Fourteen retirement communities were randomized to either HIW or CSW using a modified minimal sufficient balance randomization scheme. We recruited 165 prefrail and frail adults aged ≥60 years, of whom 105 were included in the analytic cohort. Participants were able to ambulate at least 10 feet with moderate assistance or less. The HIW group targeted 70% of heart rate maximum (HRmax), while the CSW group walked at self-selected speeds below 60% HRmax. Supervised walking sessions were 45 minutes, three times per week, for 16 weeks. The primary outcome was improvement by at least one frailty category on the SHARE-FI (Survey of Health Among Retired Europeans – Frailty Index). Secondary outcomes included the Timed Up and Go, Short Physical Performance Battery, Berg Balance Scale, and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), measured at baseline and 16 weeks. Participants had a mean (SD) age of 79.2 (8.0) years; 79% were female, and 75% were non-Hispanic White. Improvement in frailty category occurred in 32 of 46 (69.6%) HIW participants versus 26 of 56 (46.4%) CSW participants (OR = 2.91, 95% CI 1.19–7.13, p = 0.02). HIW participants showed greater gains in gait speed (mean difference = 0.08 m/s, 95% CI 0.03–0.13, p = 0.036) and 6MWT distance (mean difference = 48.99 m, 95% CI 21.1–76.9, p = 0.0088). Mean HRmax was 71% in HIW vs. 59% in CSW (p < 0.001). Median completed sessions were similar (HIW = 35; CSW = 36; p = 0.07). This cluster-randomized trial demonstrates that high-intensity walking can reverse frailty more effectively than casual-speed walking due to increased physiologic stimuli during more intensive activity. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03654807 (<a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03709251" target="_blank">https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03709251</a>) Registered 10/12/2018.</p></div> 2026-09-30T17:22:07Z Dataset Dataset 10.1371/journal.pone.0357605.t001 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/_p_Participant_Demographics_p_/34034260 CC BY 4.0