Effects of passive exercise training on physical and psychological variables of elderly participants living in long-term care: a cross sectional study.
The frail elderly often exhibit a lack of physical activity that is associated with a decline in physical functioning and an inability to carry out activities of daily living. This can result in a greater demand on nursing care. Little is known about the minimal amount of exercise required to maintain or improve functional capacity in the frail elderly. This study explored the efficacy of passive exercise training for frail elderly residents in long-term care. Thirteen participants, aged 74-99 years, completed the study. Using a cross-sectional design, subjects were divided into three groups according to their activity pattern (a sedentary-control group [SED], a restorative care exercise group [RCE] and a passive exercise training group [PE]) and were monitored for 6 months. Participants in the SED group (n=5) performed normal daily activities whereas clients in the RCE group (n=4) were involved in a restorative care program. The PE group (n=4) performed continuous passive exercise, 2 days per week, using an "Ex N' Flex" machine. Anthropometric measurements, functional and psychological measures were obtained at the beginning and end of the study. At the end of training, participants in the PE group had a significant increase in resting body temperature. Moreover, participation in passive exercise tended to improve leg muscle strength and mobility. These results demonstrate that passive exercise training may help to maintain functional capacity in the frail elderly and improve circulation. This in turn will help the patient maintain their independence and ability to carry out activities of daily living and place less demand on nursing staff.
Brenner
Ingrid
I
Trent/Fleming School of Nursing, Trent University 1600 West Bank Dr., Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada. ibrenner@trentu.ca
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care