Agility training to integratively promote neuromuscular, cardiorespiratory and cognitive function in healthy older adults: a one-year randomized-controlled trial

Eric Lichtenstein; Steffen Held; Ludwig Rappelt; Jonas Zacher; Angi Eibl; Sebastian Ludyga; Oliver Faude; Lars Donath

doi:10.1186/s11556-023-00331-6

Agility training to integratively promote neuromuscular, cardiorespiratory and cognitive function in healthy older adults: a one-year randomized-controlled trial

Eur Rev Aging Phys Act. 2023 Nov 11;20(1):21. doi: 10.1186/s11556-023-00331-6.

Authors

Eric Lichtenstein¹, Steffen Held², Ludwig Rappelt², Jonas Zacher³, Angi Eibl³, Sebastian Ludyga⁴, Oliver Faude⁴, Lars Donath²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, Basel, 4052, Switzerland. e.lichtenstein@unibas.ch.
² Department of Intervention Research in Exercise Training, Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, Cologne, 50933, Germany.
³ Institute of Cardiology and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, Cologne, 50933, Germany.
⁴ Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, Basel, 4052, Switzerland.

Abstract

Background: Exercise training recommendations for seniors include the targeted training of strength, balance, endurance and flexibility domains. Agility training (AT) is conceptualized as a multi-component and time-efficient training framework for older adults to improve physical, functional and cognitive health domains that are relevant for maintaining activities of daily living. The aim of this one-year trial was to comparatively evaluate the effects of agility training on physical and cognitive function.

Methods: Seventy-nine healthy older adults (AT: 61.5% female, 70.8 ± 4.8 years, 27.7 ± 4.2 kg/m²; CG: 60.5% female, 69.6 ± 4.7 years, 27.5 ± 4.4 kg/m²) took part in this one-year randomized controlled intervention and were either assigned to the agility training group (AT) with two weekly 60 min AT sessions or to the control group (CG), receiving no treatment. Participants were assessed pre, intermediate and post intervention for strength and power, balance, gait speed under multi-task conditions, aerobic capacity as well as cognitive performance. Linear mixed effects models were used to analyze the effect of treatment over time.

Results: Fifty-four participants (AG: 25, CG: 29) were analyzed, most drop-outs attributed to COVID-19 (17/30 dropouts). Adherence was good (75%) of 90 offered sessions. Notable effects in favor of AT were found for gait parameters in single (d = 0.355, Δ = 4.3%), dual (d = 0.375, Δ = 6.1%) and triple (d = 0.376, Δ = 6.4%) task conditions, counter movement jump performance (strength and power) (d = 0.203, Δ = 6.9%), static one leg balance (d = 0.256, Δ = 12.33%) and n-back reaction time (cognitive performance) (d = 0.204, Δ = 3.8%). No effects were found for the remaining outcomes (d < 0.175).

Conclusion: AT might serve as an integrative training approach for older adults particularly improving gait and lower limb power parameters. It seems suitable to improve a broad range of seniors' health domains and should replace isolated training of these domains. However, individual variation and progression of exercises should be considered when programming agility training providing adequate challenges throughout a long-term intervention for all participants.

Trial registration: DRKS, DRKS00017469 . Registered 19 June 2019-Retrospectively registered.

Keywords: agility training; balance; cognition; fall prevention; multicomponent exercise; older adults; strength.