title: Rehabilitation of a functionally limited, chronically ill older adult: a case study.
abstract: This case study presents MV, a 78-year-old woman who was being treated pharmacologically for several common chronic health problems and who presented with self-reported and observed limitations in her functional ability. After being screened for contraindications to exercise, MV participated in a 16-week rehabilitation program of regular exercise that included aerobic and resistance training. She maintained a high level of compliance with this rehabilitation training and showed improvements in her aerobic capacity, strength, ability to complete functional tasks, blood components, and lipid profile. She also reported decreased levels of pain and improved perceptions of functional ability. This case study indicates that older adults with chronic illness can benefit from participating in a program of regular exercise.
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville's School of Nursing, KY, USA. rvtopp01@louisville.edu
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Topp
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sobolewski
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boardley
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Mariane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fahlman
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McNevin
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006073:Gout / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications; D010809:Physical Fitness; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D016138:Walking; D014891:Weight Lifting