title: The effects of multidimensional exercise on functional decline, urinary incontinence, and fear of falling in community-dwelling elderly women with multiple symptoms of geriatric syndrome: a randomized controlled and 6-month follow-up trial.
abstract: This study assessed the effects of multidimensional exercises on functional decline, urinary incontinence, and fear of falling in community-dwelling Japanese elderly women with multiple symptoms of geriatric syndrome (MSGS). Sixty-one participants were randomly assigned either to an intervention (n=31) or to a control group (n=30). For 3-month period, the intervention group received multidimensional exercise, twice a week, aiming to increase the muscle strength, walking ability, and pelvic floor muscle (PFM). Outcome variables were measured at baseline, and after intervention and follow-up. The functional decline of the intervention group decreased from 50.0% at baseline to 16.7% after intervention and follow-up (Q=16.67, p<0.001). For urinary incontinence, the intervention group decreased from 66.7% at baseline to 23.3% after intervention and 40.0% at follow-up (Q=13.56, p=0.001), whereas the control group showed no improvement. Intervention group showed greater and significant decrease in the score of MSGS compared to control group (F=12.66, p=0.001). Within the subjects that showed improvement to normal status of MSGS, a significantly higher proportion demonstrated increased maximum walking speed at follow-up (Q=6.50, p=0.039). These results suggest that multidimensional exercise is an effective strategy for reducing geriatric syndromes in elderly population. An increase in walking ability may contribute to the improvement of MSGS.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan. kimhk@tmig.or.jp
authors.forename: Hunkyung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hideyo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000517:prevention & control*