The effect of exercise intervention on frail elderly in need of care: half-day program in a senior day-care service facility specializing in functional training

• Published in: Journal of Physical Therapy Science Vol. 28; no. 7; pp. 1957 - 1963
• Main Authors: Sakamoto, Ryota, Miura, Yasushi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Society of Physical Therapy Science 01-01-2016
• Subjects: Exercise intervention; Frail elderly in need of care; Health-related QOL; Original; Frail elderly in need of care; Health-related QOL; Exercise intervention
• ISSN: 0915-5287; 2187-5626
• DOI: 10.1589/jpts.28.1957

[Purpose] This study investigated the long-term effect of a half-day exerciseintervention program on health-related quality of life, life function, and physicalfunction in frail elderly in need of care. The program was conducted at a senior day-carefacility specializing in functional training. [Subjects and Methods] Subjects included 41elderly in need of care who had visited the service facility for at least 1 year. Physicalfunction and life function were evaluated at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Quality oflife was evaluated with the Short Form-36 at baseline and 12 months. [Results]Improvements in balance, walking speed and endurance, complex performance abilities,self-efficacy during the activities, and the level and sphere of activity were observed at6 months and maintained up to 12 months. Moreover, improvements in agility, activities ofdaily living, life function, and quality of life were also observed at 12 months.Improvements in muscle strength, walking ability, self-efficacy over an action, andactivities of daily living were related to the improvement in quality of life.[Conclusion] The use of individualized exercise programs developed by physiotherapists ledto improvements in activities of daily living and quality of life among elderly in need ofcare.