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. 2024 Feb 2;36(1):18.
doi: 10.1007/s40520-023-02648-9.

Telecoaching as a new training method for elderly people: a systematic review

Ignazio Leale  1   2 , Flavia Figlioli  1   2 , Valerio Giustino  3 , Jessica Brusa  1 , Matteo Barcellona  1 , Valerio Nocera  1 , Alberto Canzone  1 , Antonino Patti  1 , Giuseppe Messina  4   5 , Mario Barbagallo  6 , Antonio Palma  1   7 , Ligia J Dominguez  6   8 , Giuseppe Battaglia  1   7
Affiliations

Telecoaching as a new training method for elderly people: a systematic review

Ignazio Leale et al. Aging Clin Exp Res. .

Abstract

Background: The numerous restrictive measures implemented during the recent COVID-19 pandemic have reduced the levels of physical activity (PA) carried out by elderly people and telecoaching (TC) could be a training method to maintain the recommended levels of PA. In fact, TC uses information and digital communications technologies, such as computers and mobile devices, to access training services remotely. Thus, this study aimed to systematically review the scientific literature to verify the application, efficacy, and safety of TC training programs.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences databases were used for this review, and randomized controlled trials analyzing TC training programs for elderly people were included. Only articles written in English and published in the last decade were considered.

Results: 3 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis including 194 elderly people. The sample size ranged from 12 to 117 and the TC training program from 8 to 12 weeks. The TC training programs were applied to elderly people with metabolic diseases and respiratory diseases. TC training program was effective in elderly people with metabolic diseases while the benefits for respiratory diseases have yet to be clarified.

Conclusion: TC seems to be a safe, effective, and injury-free training method, despite its limited application in elderly population. Future studies should better investigate this training method in elderly people in order to evaluate the effectiveness in a wider range of diseases.

Keywords: Exercise; Falls prevention; Older people; Physical activity; Risk of falls; Sustainable exercise.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow Diagram representing the entire selection process
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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