Effect of Specifically Developed Exercise Intervention on Falls Among Older Adults in Nursing Homes

Effects of Specifically Developed Exercise on Falls, Physical Functioning, Physical Activity, and General Physical and Psychological Well-being Among Older Adults Dwelling in Nursing Homes Following Recommendations of International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics-Global Aging Research Network (IAGG-GARN)

The aim of the study is to examine the effect of multicomponent exercises recommendations on falls, physical functioning, physical activity, and general physical and psychological well-being among Hungarian older adults dwelling in nursing homes.

Methods: Randomized controlled trial of an individually exercise guideline recommended by IAGG-GARN for older males and females living in a nursing home. A stratified randomization will be performed after the baseline assessment. The assessment of primary and secondary outcomes takes place in all subjects upon entry to the study (pre-test) by blinded assessors and at 12 weeks (post-test). After baseline assessments is completed, participants will be randomly allocated to one of the two groups using stratified randomization based on equal distribution of age and gender ratio.

Expected results:

• Reduce the incidence of falls among the nursing homes residents of the intervention group (IG)
• Increase of lower extremity physical functional ability (balance, gait speed, and strength) of the IG
• Improvement of level of physical activity independency of the IG
• Improvement of functional independency of the IG
• Improvement of physical and psychological well-being among IG.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willingness to participate
• Males and females aged ≥65 years living in nursing homes
• Physically mobile (capable of ambulating/rising from chair with or without assistance)
• Not under simultaneous physical activity/exercise investigation in other experimental studies or under other exercise rehabilitation programme
• To be able to read and understand the self-reported assessments as well as follow the verbal instructions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Physically unable or medically unfit to participate in physical exercise after consultation of the responsible medical team
• Score of < 18 on mini-mental state examination (MMSE).