Functional performance and blood pressure responses to online versus in-person multicomponent training in inactive older women: randomized controlled trial

Introduction Remote supervised exercise programs are a promising strategy to reduce physical inactivity in older adults, but direct comparisons with traditional formats remain limited. This randomized controlled trial compared online (OMT) versus in-person multicomponent training (IMT) on functional capacity and blood pressure in physically inactive women aged 50–70 years. Methods Participants were randomized into IMT ( n = 23), OMT ( n = 25), or control (CG; n = 17). IMT consisted of 2 × 90-min sessions/week and OMT consisted of 3 × 60-min sessions/week, both totaling 180 min/week for 12 weeks. Functional capacity was evaluated using the 30-s arm curl and 30-s chair rise, plus ADL-related timed tasks (getting-up-from-the-ground and sock tests). Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass, and BMI were assessed pre–post intervention. Internal training load (TRIMP, monotony, strain) was monitored. Results Training-load indicators did not differ between IMT and OMT (all p > 0.05). No significant group × time interactions were observed for any outcome. SBP remained relatively stable throughout the intervention (IMT: 137 ± 21 to 133 ± 12 mmHg; OMT: 122 ± 8 to 121 ± 11 mmHg; CG: 140 ± 13 to 139 ± 12 mmHg). DBP showed modest reductions over time (IMT: 83 ± 8 to 82 ± 8 mmHg; OMT: 76 ± 8 to 73 ± 9 mmHg; CG: 74 ± 18 to 68 ± 19 mmHg). Functional performance improved modestly in both training groups, with 30-s arm-curl performance increasing from 14 ± 5 to 17 ± 6 repetitions in IMT and from 18 ± 3 to 22 ± 3 repetitions in OMT, whereas no change was observed in CG (18 ± 4 to 18 ± 4 repetitions). Similarly, 30-s chair-rise performance increased from 15 ± 2 to 17 ± 4 repetitions in IMT and from 16 ± 3 to 19 ± 3 repetitions in OMT, while remaining unchanged in CG (15 ± 3 to 15 ± 2 repetitions). No meaningful changes were observed for the getting-up-from-the-ground test, sock test, body mass, or BMI. Conclusions Online and in-person supervised multicomponent training showed similar pre–post trajectories (no group × time interactions). These findings suggest that supervised online delivery may be a feasible and practical alternative when in-person participation is not feasible, with comparable global internal training-load indicators.