Exercise programs for the institutionalized elderly do make a difference

This randomized controlled trial conducted in France assessed the effects of targeted exercise programs versus usual care based on the ability to perform activities of daily living and on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory scores of geriatric institutionalized persons. Two exercise programs versus usual care were conducted on 160 institutionalized persons 65 years or older who were able to understand basic motor commands and to move from one position to another.

Interventions performed over 6 months included either an adapted tai chi program (4 times 30 min/wk) or a cognition-action program (2 times 30-45 min/wk) that focused primarily on an adapted guidance of patient-centered communication skills.  

The control group, which received no exercise and the usual care, experienced a decline in activities of daily living over the 12-month period compared with the adapted tai chi and cognition-action groups. Also, the components such as ability to walk, continence, and nutrition, were maintained better in the intervention groups than in the control group. The total Neuropsychiatric Inventory score also worsened significantly in the control group, but was unchanged or improved in the intervention groups.

Conclusion: "Adapted exercise programs can slow down the decline in health-related quality of life among heterogeneous, institutionalized elderly persons."  

Abstract: PubMed. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00623532. "Effects of exercise programs to prevent decline in health-related quality of life in highly deconditioned institutionalized elderly persons: a randomized controlled trial," Archives of Internal Medicine [2010 Jan 25;170(2):162-9]  Photo by Let Ideas Compete