Chinese Center of Exercise Epidemiology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China.
Graduate School of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa 169-8050, Japan.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jun 7;19(12):6988. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19126988.
Background: Due to the low physical fitness of the frail elderly, current exercise program strategies have a limited impact. Eight-form Tai Chi has a low intensity, but high effectiveness in the elderly. Inspired by it, we designed an exercise program that incorporates eight-form Tai Chi, strength, and endurance exercises, to improve physical fitness and reverse frailty in the elderly. Additionally, for the ease of use in clinical practice, machine learning simulations were used to predict the frailty status after the intervention. Methods: For 24 weeks, 150 frail elderly people completed the experiment, which comprised the eight-form Tai Chi group (TC), the strength and endurance training group (SE), and a comprehensive intervention combining both TC and SE (TCSE). The comparison of the demographic variables used one-way ANOVA for continuous data and the chi-squared test for categorical data. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine significant main effects and interaction effects. Eleven machine learning models were used to predict the frailty status of the elderly following the intervention. Results: Two-way repeated measures ANOVA results before the intervention, group effects of ten-meter maximum walking speed (10 m MWS), grip strength (GS), timed up and go test (TUGT), and the six-minute walk test (6 min WT) were not significant. There was a significant interaction effect of group × time in ten-meter maximum walking speed, grip strength, and the six-minute walk test. Post hoc tests showed that after 24 weeks of intervention, subjects in the TCSE group showed the greatest significant improvements in ten-meter maximum walking speed (p < 0.05) and the six-minute walk test (p < 0.05) compared to the TC group and SE group. The improvement in grip strength in the TCSE group (4.29 kg) was slightly less than that in the SE group (5.16 kg). There was neither a significant main effect nor a significant interaction effect for TUGT in subjects. The stacking model outperformed other algorithms. Accuracy and the F1-score were 67.8% and 71.3%, respectively. Conclusion: A hybrid exercise program consisting of eight-form Tai Chi and strength and endurance exercises can more effectively improve physical fitness and reduce frailty among the elderly. It is possible to predict whether an elderly person will reverse frailty following an exercise program based on the stacking model.
由于虚弱老年人的身体适应性较差，目前的运动方案策略效果有限。八式太极拳强度低，但对老年人效果高。受此启发，我们设计了一种运动方案，结合八式太极拳、力量和耐力训练，以提高老年人的身体适应性并逆转虚弱状态。此外，为了便于在临床实践中使用，我们使用机器学习模拟来预测干预后的虚弱状态。
150 名虚弱老年人完成了 24 周的实验，包括八式太极拳组（TC）、力量和耐力训练组（SE）以及结合 TC 和 SE 的综合干预组（TCSE）。连续数据采用单因素方差分析比较人口统计学变量，分类数据采用卡方检验。采用双向重复测量方差分析（ANOVA）确定显著的主效应和交互效应。使用 11 种机器学习模型预测干预后老年人的虚弱状态。
干预前的双向重复测量 ANOVA 结果，10 米最大步行速度（10 m MWS）、握力（GS）、计时起立行走测试（TUGT）和 6 分钟步行测试（6 min WT）的组间效应无显著差异。10 米最大步行速度、握力和 6 分钟步行测试的组间×时间存在显著的交互效应。事后检验显示，24 周干预后，TCSE 组在 10 米最大步行速度（p < 0.05）和 6 分钟步行测试（p < 0.05）方面的改善显著优于 TC 组和 SE 组。TCSE 组握力的改善（4.29 千克）略低于 SE 组（5.16 千克）。TUGT 组受试者既没有显著的主效应，也没有显著的交互效应。堆叠模型优于其他算法。准确性和 F1 得分为 67.8%和 71.3%。
由八式太极拳和力量及耐力训练组成的混合运动方案可更有效地改善老年人的身体适应性并降低其虚弱程度。可以使用堆叠模型预测老年人是否会在运动方案后逆转虚弱。
