title: Long-term exercise in older adults: 4-year outcomes of music-based multitask training.
abstract: Prospective controlled evidence supporting the efficacy of long-term exercise to prevent physical decline and reduce falls in old age is lacking. The present study aimed to assess the effects of long-term music-based multitask exercise (i.e., Jaques-Dalcroze eurhythmics) on physical function and fall risk in older adults. A 3-year follow-up extension of a 1-year randomized controlled trial (NCT01107288) was conducted in Geneva (Switzerland), in which 134 community-dwellers aged ≥65 years at increased risk of falls received a 6-month music-based multitask exercise program. Four years following original trial enrolment, 52 subjects (baseline mean ± SD age, 75 ± 8 years) who (i) have maintained exercise program participation through the 4-year follow-up visit ("long-term intervention group", n = 23) or (ii) have discontinued participation following original trial completion ("control group", n = 29) were studied. They were reassessed in a blind fashion, using the same procedures as at baseline. At 4 years, linear mixed-effects models showed significant gait (gait speed, P = 0.006) and balance (one-legged stance time, P = 0.015) improvements in the long-term intervention group, compared with the control group. Also, long-term intervention subjects did better on Timed Up & Go, Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand and handgrip strength tests, than controls (P < 0.05, for all comparisons). Furthermore, the exercise program reduced the risk of falling (relative risk, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-0.9; P = 0.008). These findings suggest that long-term maintenance of a music-based multitask exercise program is a promising strategy to prevent age-related physical decline in older adults. They also highlight the efficacy of sustained long-term adherence to exercise for falls prevention.
authors.affiliation: Division of Bone Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1211, Geneva 14, Switzerland, Melany.Hars@hcuge.ch.
authors.forename: Mélany
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hars
authors.forename: François R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fielding
authors.forename: Kieran F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rizzoli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trombetti
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance