Medicina UPB · Nov 6, 2026
Physical exercise as a nonpharmacological strategy for home care of older adults. Review article
By Lozano HR, Reina MQ, Albarracín EAP et al.
The implementation of home-based physical exercise programs is an important nonpharmacological strategy for health care for older adults. Knowledge of the techniques used to develop these programs allows scientifically grounded programs to be designed. The purpose of this review article was to identify current methodological strategies in the development of physical exercise programs as a nonpharmacological complementary therapy for home health care for older adults. Analysis of the documentary information allowed major themes to be established in the collected articles, facilitating their organization according to chronological, geographical, and methodological similarities. Three types of methodological strategies were identified: technology-assisted independent work, unassisted independent work, and independent work combined with in-person support. It is evident that, in recent years, home-based physical exercise programs have evolved from in-person supervision and assistance to synchronous and asynchronous technological mediation, highlighting the positioning of technological mediation as the main strategy for home care. The most commonly used technological means are those involving audiovisual communication, such as the use of the web, application development, telephone communication, and the implementation of monitoring and follow-up equipment. Home-based physical activity programs for older adults have a positive impact on health, and there are multiple methodological possibilities and applications in various diseases.