Effects of Exercise on ADL Performance, Physical Fitness, and Care Dependency in Institutionalized Elderly People
Effects of Exercise on ADL Performance, Physical Fitness, and Care Dependency in Institutionalized Elderly People
Questions: Does an evidence-based exercise program increase activities of daily living and physical fitness in institutionalized older adults? Does this program decrease the care dependency of institutionalized older adults? Design: A randomized control trial using group-based exercise was performed in 14 assisted-living facilities for the elderly (>70 years old).
Outcome measures: Outcome measures were performance on ADL, physical fitness, and care dependency measures. The exercise program comprised group-based progressive resistance training, balance training, and functional training. The control intervention comprised social group meetings.
To improve physical fitness, a combined exercise program including progressive resistance training, balance training, and functional training will be used in a sample of institutionalized elderly people. The exercise program has a frequency of 2 times a week and a duration of 16 weeks. The intensity is moderate, measured on a 0-10 scale. The level of intensity is specified as follows: on a 10- point scale, where no movement is 0 and maximal effort of a muscle group is 10, moderate-intensity effort is a 5 or 6, and high- intensity effort is a 7 or 8. There is currently insufficient evidence that a combined exercise program, developed to improve physical fitness, can improve ADL performance and care dependency also.
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