title: Randomized controlled resistance training based physical activity trial for central European nursing home residing older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nursing home residing older adults often experience fear of sickness or death, functional impairment and pain. It is difficult for these older adults to maintain a physically active lifestyle and to keep a positive outlook on life. This study evaluated the changes in quality of life, attitude to aging, assertiveness, physical fitness and body composition of nursing home residing elderly through a 15-week organized resistance training based physical activity program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inactive older adults living in a state financed nursing home (N.=45) were randomly divided into two intervention groups and a control group. Both intervention groups were assigned to two physical activity sessions a week, but one of these groups also had weekly discussions on health and quality of life (Mental group). Data on anthropometric measures, fitness performance, as well as quality of life and attitudes to aging survey data were collected. Due to low attendance rate 12 subjects were excluded from the analyses. Statistical analysis included Paired Samples t-tests and Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both intervention groups significantly improved their social participation, and their upper- and lower-body strength scores. Also, subjects in the Mental group showed improvement in agility fitness test and certain survey scales. No positive changes were detected in attitude towards aging and body composition measures in any groups. The post-hoc results suggest that Mental group improved significantly more than the Control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular physical activity with discussions on health and quality of life made a more meaningful difference for the older adults living in nursing home than physical activity alone. Due to the fact that all participants were influenced by the program, it is suggested to further explore this area for better understanding of enhanced quality of life.
authors.affiliation: University of Physical Education, Budapest, Hungary - sdorgo@utep.edu.
authors.forename: Istvan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barthalos
authors.forename: Sandor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dorgo
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kopkáné Plachy
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szakály
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ihász
authors.forename: Teodóra
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ráczné Németh
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bognár
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001242:Assertiveness; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001823:Body Composition; D005060:Europe; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*