title: Perceptions of participating in high-intensity functional exercise among older people dependent in activities of daily living (ADL).
abstract: The purpose of the study was to evaluate how older people, dependent in ADL perceive their participation in a high-intensity, functional exercise program compared to the perceptions of those participating in a control activity. Forty-eight older people living in residential care facilities answered a questionnaire about their perceptions of participating in an activity for three months. They were aged 65-98, had a mean score of 24 on Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and 14 on Barthel ADL Index. The participants had been randomized to exercise (n=20) or control activity (n=28). Differences in responses between exercise and control activity were evaluated using logistic and ordinal regression analyses. The results show that a majority of the exercise group perceived positive changes in lower limb strength, balance, and in the ability to move more safely and securely compared to a minority of the control group (p<0.001). Significantly more respondents in the exercise activity answered that they felt less tired due to the activity (p=0.027) and that they prioritized this activity above other activities (p=0.010). More exercise participants reported that meeting for three months was too short, and fewer that it was too long compared to the control group (p=0.038). This study shows that older people living in residential care facilities, dependent in ADL, and with mild or no cognitive impairment had positive perceptions about participating in high-intensity functional exercise. The findings support the use of a high-intensity exercise program in this population of older people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden. nina.lindelof@germed.umu.se
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lindelöf
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosendahl
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nygaard
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nyberg
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Exercise; Frail elderly; Perception; Residential facilities