Classification of the Phenotype of Fragilty in the Elderly of a Chiropractic School Clinic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Increased life expectancy has created new challenges in caring for the elderly population, especially in recognizing and managing frailty. Frailty is a multidimensional geriatric syndrome associated with negative outcomes such as falls, hospitalizations, and premature death. Chiropractic, because it affects musculoskeletal health, can play an important role in detecting and addressing early signs of frailty. This cross-sectional study aimed to classify the frailty phenotype in elderly individuals treated at a chiropractic school clinic. The sample consisted of 10 elderly individuals aged 60 years and older. Handgrip strength, gait speed, self-reported fatigue, weight loss, and physical activity level were assessed. The analysis followed the criteria of Fried et al. (2001). The results showed that 60% of participants were pre-frail and 40% were frail. It is concluded that frailty assessment should be integrated into chiropractic care for the elderly, with multimodal therapeutic strategies.