A community-based fitness and mobility exercise program for older adults with chronic stroke: a randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of a community-based group exercise program for older individuals with chronic stroke.


METHODS
Prospective, single-blind, randomized, controlled intervention trial.


METHODS
Intervention was community-based. Data collection was performed in a research laboratory located in a rehabilitation hospital.


METHODS
Sixty-three older individuals (aged > or = 50) with chronic stroke (poststroke duration > or = 1 year) who were living in the community.


METHODS
Participants were randomized into intervention group (n=32) or control group (n=31). The intervention group underwent a fitness and mobility exercise (FAME) program designed to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, mobility, leg muscle strength, balance, and hip bone mineral density (BMD) (1-hour sessions, three sessions/week, for 19 weeks). The control group underwent a seated upper extremity program.


METHODS
Cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal oxygen consumption), mobility (6-minute walk test), leg muscle strength (isometric knee extension), balance (Berg Balance Scale), activity and participation (Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities), and femoral neck BMD (using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry).


RESULTS
The intervention group had significantly more gains in cardiorespiratory fitness, mobility, and paretic leg muscle strength than controls. Femoral neck BMD of the paretic leg was maintained in the intervention group, whereas a significant decline of the same occurred in controls. There was no significant time-by-group interaction for balance, activity and participation, nonparetic leg muscle strength, or nonparetic femoral neck BMD.


CONCLUSIONS
The FAME program is feasible and beneficial for improving some of the secondary complications resulting from physical inactivity in older adults living with stroke. It may serve as a good model of a community-based fitness program for preventing secondary diseases in older adults living with chronic conditions.
Pang
Marco Y C
MY
School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Eng
Janice J
JJ
Dawson
Andrew S
AS
McKay
Heather A
HA
Harris
Jocelyn E
JE
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification*; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003153:Community Health Services; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010809:Physical Fitness; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
D010100:Oxygen