A novel weight-bearing strengthening program during rehabilitation of older people is feasible and improves standing up more than a non-weight-bearing strengthening program: a randomised trial.
OBJECTIVE
What is the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel weight-bearing strengthening program compared with that of a traditional non-weight-bearing strengthening program for older inpatients undergoing rehabilitation?


METHODS
Randomised, controlled trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis.


METHODS
Eighty-eight inpatients (11% loss to follow-up) aged on average 82 years old from three rehabilitation units with no contraindications to exercise.


METHODS
Both the weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing strengthening programs were supervised by physiotherapists and were of similar intensities (10 to 15 RM) for two weeks.


METHODS
The primary outcomes were standing up performance measured as minimum chair height, and strength measured as maximum isometric knee extensor force of both legs. The secondary outcomes were other mobility measures such as standing-up rate, walking, standing and overall mobility, and other strength measures such as maximum isometric hip extensor, hip abductor, and knee flexor force of both legs.


RESULTS
After the two-week intervention, the weight-bearing strengthening group had decreased their minimum chair height by 5.3 cm (95% CI 0.7 to 9.8) and increased their hip extensor strength on the weaker leg by 9 N (95% CI 1 to 17) more than the non-weight-bearing strengthening group. There were no clinically-worthwhile or statistically-significant differences between the groups for any other measures.


CONCLUSIONS
This novel weight-bearing strengthening program was feasible and safe in an inpatient rehabilitation setting and had some additional benefits over a traditional non-weight-bearing strengthening program.
Olivetti
Lynette
L
War Memorial Hospital, Australia.
Schurr
Karl
K
Sherrington
Catherine
C
Wallbank
Geraldine
G
Pamphlett
Patricia
P
Kwan
Marcella Mun-San
MM
Herbert
Robert D
RD
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*