title: Effectiveness of a low-threshold physical activity intervention in residential aged care--results of a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research on effectiveness of low-threshold mobility interventions that are viable for users of residential aged care is scarce. Low-threshold is defined as keeping demands on organizations (staff skills, costs) and participants (health status, discipline) rather low. The study explored the effectiveness of a multi-faceted, low-threshold physical activity program in three residential aged-care facilities in Austria. Main goals were enhancement of mobility by conducting a multi-faceted training program to foster occupational performance and thus improve different aspects of health-related quality of life (QoL).
  
  
  METHODS
  The program consisted of a weekly session of 60 minutes over a period of 20 weeks. A standardized assessment of mobility status and health-related QoL was applied before and after the intervention. A total of 222 of 276 participants completed the randomized controlled trial study (intervention group n=104, control group n=118; average age 84 years, 88% female).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjective health status (EuroQoL-5 dimensions: P=0.001, d=0.36) improved significantly in the intervention group, and there were also positive trends in occupational performance (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure). No clear effects were found concerning the functional and cognitive measures applied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, the low-threshold approach turned out to be effective primarily on subjective health-related QoL. This outcome could be a useful asset for organizations offering low-threshold physical activity interventions.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Health Promotion Research, Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cichocki
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Health Promotion Research, Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Viktoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Quehenberger
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Health Promotion Research, Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeiler
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Health Promotion Research, Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adamcik
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Health Promotion Research, Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manousek
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Vienna & University of Applied Sciences FH Campus, Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stamm
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Health Promotion Research, Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krajic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001317:Austria; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006304:Health Status; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: aged; effectiveness; intervention; physical activity; residential aged care