The effects of physical therapists' guidance on improvement in a strength-training program for the frail elderly.
Elderly participants experiencing difficulty in chair rising and with a maximum knee-extensor torque below 87.5 N . m were randomized to different versions of a strength-training program for the knee-extensors: to a high-guidance group (HG; two group sessions supervised by a physical therapist and one unsupervised home session per week, n = 17), a medium-guidance group (MG; one supervised group session and two unsupervised home sessions per week, n = 16), or a control group (C; no exercise, n = 16). Maximal isometric knee strength increased more in HG than in C (p = .03) and with increasing guidance (p = .03). The effect was mainly the result of participants with low initial strength. Walking speed increased more for HG than for C (p = .02) and than for MG (p = .06). No statistically significant improvements were seen on other functional tests. In summary, the study shows a trend toward better results with more supervision, but more and larger studies are needed to confirm this.
Boshuizen
Hendriek C
HC
TNO Prevention and Health, Department of Physical Activity and Health, The Netherlands.
Stemmerik
Lysander
L
Westhoff
Marja H
MH
Hopman-Rock
Marijke
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology*; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology