Impact Of Home Physical Therapy On The Quality Of Life Of The Frail Elderly
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17754708Keywords:
Fisioterapia domiciliar, Idoso frágil, Qualidade de vida, Envelhecimento, Autonomia funcionalAbstract
Abstract: Introduction-Population aging has led to a significant increase in the number of frail older adults, a group characterized by functional decline, reduced muscle strength, slowness, unintentional weight loss, and greater vulnerability to adverse events. In this context, home-based physiotherapy has emerged as a therapeutic and preventive strategy aimed at maintaining functional capacity and promoting the quality of life of this population. Objective-This article aims to analyze the impact of home physiotherapy on the quality of life of frail older adults, based on recent scientific evidence. It is a narrative review of the literature published between 2019 and 2025, conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and SciELO databases. Results-The reviewed studies show that individualized home-based programs, consisting of strength, balance, and functional training exercises, contribute to improvements in autonomy, mobility, and physical and emotional well-being among elderly individuals. Furthermore, home-based care fosters a stronger connection between the professional, the patient, and the family, enhancing adherence to treatment and enabling continuous monitoring of clinical conditions. Despite these benefits, challenges remain regarding the standardization of intervention protocols, patient adherence, and the measurement of global quality-of-life outcomes. It is concluded that home physiotherapy represents an essential intervention for the comprehensive care of frail older adults, promoting active and healthy aging, reducing functional dependence, and improving overall quality of life.
References
CARVALHO, A. L.; SILVA, M. A.; OLIVEIRA, R. M. Efeitos da fisioterapia domiciliar na funcionalidade de idosos frágeis. Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia, v. 25, n. 3, p. 1–10, 2022.
CARVALHO, A. L. et al. Home-based physiotherapy for frail elderly: Impact on mobility and quality of life. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, v. 45, n. 3, p. 155–164, 2022.
CESARI, M. et al. Frailty in older adults: An overview. Clinical Interventions in Aging, v. 14, p. 123–132, 2019.
FRIED, L. P.; TANGEN, C. M.; WALSTON, J. et al. Frailty in older adults: Evidence for a phenotype. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, v. 56, n. 3, p. M146–M157, 2001.
FRIED, L. P. et al. Update on the frailty syndrome in older adults. Journal of Geriatric Medicine, v. 36, n. 2, p. 200–210, 2021.
GONÇALVES, L. H.; VIEIRA, E. R. A importância da fisioterapia na manutenção da funcionalidade em idosos. Revista Brasileira de Fisioterapia, v. 27, n. 2, p. 123–130, 2023.
GONÇALVES, L. P.; VIEIRA, E. R. Functional capacity and quality of life in elderly populations. Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia, v. 26, n. 3, e20230045, 2023.
IBGE – Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Projeções da população do Brasil e das Unidades da Federação. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE, 2023.
LOPES, L. V. et al. Impact of physical exercise on functionality and quality of life in older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, v. 29, n. 4, p. 620–631, 2021.
MENDES, E. A.; SILVA, J. A. Desafios na implementação da fisioterapia domiciliar para idosos no Brasil. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, v. 39, n. 4, e00012323, 2023.
MENDES, A. C.; SILVA, R. F. Barriers and challenges in home-based physiotherapy for older adults. Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia, v. 26, n. 2, e20230078, 2023
RIBEIRO, R. et al. Envelhecimento saudável: Aspectos fisiológicos e clínicos. Revista de Saúde Pública, v. 55, p. 67, 2021.
RUÍZ-GRAO, M. J. et al. Eficácia da fisioterapia domiciliar na melhoria da qualidade de vida de idosos frágeis. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, v. 47, n. 1, p. 1–8, 2024.
RUÍZ-GRAO, C. et al. Functional evaluation and intervention in elderly care: Home-based physiotherapy outcomes. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, v. 36, n. 1, p. 75–88, 2024.
SANTOS, D. S. et al. Percepção dos idosos sobre a fisioterapia domiciliar: Um estudo qualitativo. Revista Brasileira de Terapias Complementares, v. 28, n. 2, p. 45–52, 2023.
SANTOS, R. F. et al. Domiciliary physiotherapy in frail older adults: Evidence and clinical practice. Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia, v. 26, n. 4, e20230234, 2023.
SOUSA, R. M. et al. Determinantes sociais da fragilidade em idosos: Uma revisão integrativa. Revista de Saúde Pública, v. 56, p. 1–9, 2022.
SOUSA, R. A. et al. Fragilidade em idosos: Inter-relação entre fatores biológicos e sociais. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, v. 38, n. 2, e00123421, 2022.
VERAS, R. P. Envelhecimento, funcionalidade e qualidade de vida: Desafios e perspectivas. Revista de Saúde Pública, v. 56, p. 101, 2022.
VERONESE, N.; DE RUI, M. Preventing frailty in older adults. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, v. 32, n. 8, p. 1467–1477, 2020.
WALTERS, K. et al. Home-based physiotherapy for frail older adults: A systematic review. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, v. 6, n. 1, p. e1–e10, 2025.
WALTERS, K. et al. Home physiotherapy programs for frail elderly: Safety, adherence, and effectiveness. Clinical Interventions in Aging, v. 20, p. 301–315, 2025.
WHO – World Health Organization. World report on ageing and health. Geneva: WHO, 2024.
ORGANIZAÇÃO MUNDIAL DA SAÚDE (WHO). Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE). Disponível em: https://www.who.int/ageing/health-systems/icope . Acesso em: 22 out. 2025.
WHOQOL Group. Development of the World Health Organization WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment. Psychological Medicine, v. 28, n. 3, p. 551–558, 1998.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Denise Pereira Dos Santos Costa, Roney Jorge de Souza, Keite Oliveira de Lima

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.