Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), University of South Australia Allied Health and Human Performance, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
NHMRC Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2020 Jun;20(6):595-601. doi: 10.1111/ggi.13923. Epub 2020 Apr 17.
It is important for older adults to maintain the ability to be physically active, and to experience the benefits that physical activity brings. This study evaluates a 12-week Accredited Exercise Physiologist-led exercise program for vulnerable older adults living with dementia, delivered in a residential aged care facility in South Australia. The value of the program was also evaluated from the perspective of partners-in-care (family members and care staff).
Participants (n = 59) were randomized to either an intervention or control group, based on their functional and cognitive status. Physical function, cognitive function and habitual physical activity were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. In total, 51 family members and 44 care staff completed surveys or participated to understand their perspectives of residents' capacity to exercise, as well as their perceptions of the impact of the program.
Repeated measures ANOVA identified evidence for maintenance of physical function (timed-up-and-go [ɳ = 0.19], handgrip strength [ɳ = 0.13]); however, there were no differences for objectively measured habitual activity or cognitive function. Evidence for a dose effect was demonstrated for the 2-min walk and timed-up-and-go associated with the number of individual sessions attended by a participant. Partners-in-care perceived greater improvement compared with deterioration across all measured factors [(P < 0.01, partial eta (ɳ ) =0.19] ranged from 0.35 to 0.78) post-intervention. Perceptions and expectations of who could benefit from participation were changed (P < 0.05) and indicated that all but the most severely declined residents would be likely to benefit.
Data supporting the maintenance for some physical functions suggest that this type of program should be considered for older adults living with dementia in residential aged care facilities. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••-••.
对于老年人来说，保持身体活跃的能力并体验到身体活动带来的益处非常重要。本研究评估了一项为期 12 周的、由经过认证的运动生理学家为居住在南澳大利亚养老院的患有痴呆症的脆弱老年人提供的锻炼计划。还从护理合作伙伴（家庭成员和护理人员）的角度评估了该计划的价值。
根据参与者的功能和认知状态，将他们随机分为干预组或对照组。在基线和干预后评估身体功能、认知功能和习惯性身体活动。共有 51 名家庭成员和 44 名护理人员完成了调查或参与，以了解他们对居民锻炼能力的看法，以及他们对该计划影响的看法。
重复测量方差分析表明，身体功能（起身行走时间[ɳ = 0.19]、握力[ɳ = 0.13]）得到维持的证据；然而，客观测量的习惯性活动或认知功能没有差异。与参与者参加的个别课程次数相关的 2 分钟步行和起身行走的证据表明存在剂量效应。与恶化相比，护理合作伙伴认为所有测量因素都有更大的改善（P < 0.01，部分 eta（ɳ）= 0.19，范围从 0.35 到 0.78）。干预后，对谁可以从参与中受益的看法和期望发生了变化（P < 0.05），并表明除了病情最严重的衰退患者外，所有患者都可能受益。
支持一些身体功能维持的数据表明，这种类型的计划应考虑在养老院居住的患有痴呆症的老年人中使用。
