Is functional training functional? a systematic review of its effects in community-dwelling older adults.

Chiung-Ju Liu, Wen-Pin Chang, Yun Chan Shin, Yi-Ling Hu, Jane Morgan-Daniel

Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, 1225 Center Drive, P.O. Box 100164, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0164, USA. [email protected] of Occupational Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, 1225 Center Drive, P.O. Box 100164, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0164, USA. [email protected]. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

Age-related decline in physical and cognitive capacity increases older adults' risk of disability, long-term care placement, and mortality rate. Functional training, which uses activities of daily living or simulated movements to complete activities as the intervention medium, could be more effective than rote exercise, which uses repetitive movements without added purpose, in preventing late-life disability in older people. With a growing number of studies in this area, systematically studying the effect of functional training is needed. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effects of functional training on the outcomes of activities of daily living, physical functioning, and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.

The following analysis is generated by AI and may contain errors. It is separate from the authors’ abstract and is not peer review.

Research summary

The paper addresses functional training's effects on physical and cognitive functioning in older adults, which is relevant to longevity research as it explores interventions that may help maintain independence and quality of life in aging populations. However, the study appears to focus on practical applications rather than addressing the root causes of aging or lifespan extension, limiting its overall impact in the field.

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