Home-based leg strengthening for older adults initiated through private practice.
BACKGROUND
Leg strength correlates with functional ability in the frail elderly, many of whom can be reached through a private practice setting. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of physician-prescribed, home-based, clinic-monitored, high-intensity leg-strengthening treatment among elderly patients with a variety of medical problems.


METHODS
Twenty-two elderly patients with a variety of chronic medical conditions were invited to participate during regularly scheduled office visits if they had difficulty rising from a chair and an unsteady, cautious gait (age 85.1 +/- 5.7, 14 female). Physical therapists (PT) instructed patients to lift ankle weights at home, three times per week. Patients visited PT five times over a 12-week period. Weights were increased at each visit.


RESULTS
Patients' one-repetition maximum increased (right leg 13 to 21 lb, P = 0.00; left leg 15 to 22 lb, P = 0.00). Patients also improved in habitual (18 to 12 s, P = 0.01) and tandem (38 to 26 s, P = 0.00) 20-foot walking times and sit-to-stand time (5 to 3 s, P = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The primary care physician can initiate a home-based leg-strengthening program that is practical for and well tolerated by the frail elderly.
St. Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri 63104, USA.
J F
JF
McCool
J K
JK
Schneider
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology