Randomized Controlled Trial of Group Exercise Intervention for Fall Risk Factors Reduction in Nursing Home Residents

• Published in: Canadian journal on aging Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 328 - 336
• Main Authors: Pepera, Garyfallia, Krinta, Katerina, Mpea, Christina, Antoniou, Varsamo, Peristeropoulos, Argirios, Dimitriadis, Zacharias
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.06.2023
• Subjects: Aged; Aging; Clinical trials; Control groups; Dementia; Disease prevention; Exercise; Exercise intensity; Exercise Therapy - methods; Falls; Fitness training programs; Flexibility; Grip strength; Hand Strength; Health risks; Heart; Humans; Intervention; Medical research; Mobility; Musculoskeletal diseases; Nursing Homes; Older people; Physical fitness; Quality of Life; Risk Factors; Risk reduction; Rotator cuff; Tests; Time; Walking; résidents de centres d’hébergement; flexibilité; strength; vieillissement; fall risk factors; entraînement par l’exercice; flexibility; nursing home residents; exercise training; exercise intervention; older adults; facteurs de risque de chute; force; intervention avec exercices; aging; personnes âgées
• ISSN: 0714-9808; 1710-1107; 1710-1107
• DOI: 10.1017/S0714980822000265

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a multidimensional exercise intervention on improving fall risk deterrent factors, such as overall strength and flexibility in nursing home residents. A multi-centre, randomized controlled trial was finally utilized in 40 older adults (>65 years) who were randomly allocated to the intervention or the control group (20 subjects in each). The intervention group attended an exercise program twice a week for eight weeks, to improve functional mobility. The control group did not receive any intervention. Measurements before and after intervention included the Hand Grip Strength (HGS) testing, the Sit-to-Stand test (SST), the Back Scratch Test (BST), and the Sit-and-Reach test (SRT). MANOVA revealed significant time effects, V = 0.336, (6, 33) = 2.78, = 0.027, partial η = 0.336; group effects, V = 0.599, (6, 33) = 8.22, < 0.001, partial η = 0.599; and group*time interaction, V = 0.908, (6, 33) = 54.52, < 0.001, partial η = 0.908. A subsequent univariate analysis did not reveal a significant time effect for any variable ( > 0.05). Significant group effects were observed only for SRT ( < 0.05). Significant group*time interactions were observed for all the examined variables ( < 0.05). Dependent t-tests showed that the older adults in the exercise group were significantly improved in all the examined parameters ( < 0.05). Except for SRT ( > 0.05), all the other parameters significantly deteriorated in the control group ( < 0.05). Significant improvements were demonstrated in strength and flexibility among nursing home residents following an eight-week group exercise training program.