Participants and randomization
Patients admitted to the ACE unit were evaluated by geriatricians. Participants included in this study were older men and women who were acutely hospitalized and that were recruited within the first 48 h of admission to ACE by a team of geriatricians. Despite the patients showing certain vulnerability, the search for participants focused on individuals who had sufficient levels of functional reserve and cognitive capacity, and were able to perform assessments and physical exercises. Initially, a trained research assistant conducted a screening interview to determine whether potentially eligible patients met the following inclusion criteria: age ≥ 75 years, Barthel index score ≥ 60 points two weeks prior to admission, and able to ambulate (with/without assistance) and to communicate with the research team. Exclusion criteria included expected length of stay Study randomization was generated by an external statistician to the RCT who was blinded to the study design and participant involvement. The randomization sequence was generated through an online tool 