Multicomponent Exercise vs Walking Intervention in Nursing Home Residents (MCvsW)

EXPERIMENTAL: Multicomponent exercise intervention

The multicomponent exercise program consisted of strength and balance exercises performed on two non-consecutive days per week and lasting approximately an hour per session. Strength exercises were mainly focused on lower limb strengthening. A gradual and progressive intensity starting at 40% 1-RM and up 70% 1-RM was used. As for balance exercises, the first weeks consisted of mainly less complex static balance exercises and progressed to more complex and dynamic balance exercises. These exercises included standing with their feet together, semi-tandem, tandem and one-legged stand positions and moving on to dynamic exercises (circuits, stepping and so on). Difficulty was increased by reducing arm and base support and by varying the type and complexity of exercises. An individualized progression was applied to each participant based on their progress throughout the intervention.

Other: Multicomponent exercise intervention

Strength exercises were focused on lower limb strengthening. Individual bilateral intensities were calculated to estimate one repetition maximum (1-RM) for the leg and arm. This test was performed on the 2nd and 7th weeks of the intervention. A gradual and progressive intensity starting at 40% 1-RM and up 70% 1-RM was used. No external loads were applied to the rest of the exercises due to their complex execution technique and subsequent risk of adverse events. In these cases, training progression was achieved through volume (number of repetitions) and execution velocity increments.

Balance exercises included standing with their feet together, semi-tandem, tandem and one-legged stand positions and moving on to dynamic exercises (circuits, stepping and so on). Difficulty was increased by reducing arm and base support and by varying the type and complexity of exercises. An individualized progression was applied to each participant based on their progress throughout the intervention.

EXPERIMENTAL: Walking intervention

Participants assigned to the walking group walked with the research staff two days per week; additionally, they walked partially supervised by LTNH staff, family members or caregivers the rest of the week. Daily walking goals were set follows: walking between 5 to 10 minutes on the first month, up to 15 minutes on the second, and finally 20 minutes per day on the third month. The final goal was to get as close as possible to the recommendations of engaging in 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week from the World Health Organization (WHO). Participants were asked to walk as fast as they could and rest was allowed whenever needed. Walking goals were achieved in one or multiple sessions, depending on each participant´s capacities. Those participants that met the walking goals without any rest were encouraged to walk at a faster pace.

Other: Walking intervention

To comply with the walking goals, walking distance was calculated based on each participant´s performance on the 6-minute walking test and using a rule of thumb. Therefore, every participant had an itinerary to follow to comply with the minimum walking time each week. Distance rather than time was used with participants for practical reasons and the inability of most of them to measure time. Moreover, time and distance were individually adapted according to each participant´s performance on the previous week.

To ensure that participants complied with the walking goals, each of them (if they were cognitively able) was given a record sheet in which they had to write down their everyday walking routines. In addition, the caregivers were also informed about the walking routines and ensured that those participants who needed close supervision had someone to walk with and filled the sheet of those that were unable to do so.

Short Physical Performance Battery

The Short Physical Performance Battery test (SPPB). It assesses Lower extremity function: static balance, gait speed and getting in and out of a chair. The participant undertakes different tests: Side-by-side, semi-tandem and tandem stands (10 seconds); 4 meters walk test at comfortable speed and 5 quickly sit to stand from a chair without upper extremity assistance. The outcome is a score 0-12 points. A higher score means better performance

Reference:

Guralnik et al, 1994. A short physical performance battery assessing lower extremity function: association with self-reported disability and prediction of mortality and nursing home admission. J Gerontol. 1994; 49(2):M85-94. doi: 10.1093/geronj/49.2.M85.

Senior Fitness Test: strength of the upper extremities

Number of arm curls performed in 30 seconds

Reference:

Rikli & Jones, 2007. Senior fitness test. Human Kinetics, Champaign; 2001. ISBN 0-7360-3356-4.

Senior Fitness Test: strength of the lower extremities

Number of Chair-stands performed in 30 seconds

Reference:

Rikli & Jones, 2007. Senior fitness test. Human Kinetics, Champaign; 2001. ISBN 0-7360-3356-4.

Senior Fitness Test: flexibility

Performed test: chair sit and reach. The participant is sitting and tries to touch the toes. The distance between the fingers and the toes is measured (cm)

Reference:

Rikli & Jones, 2007. Senior fitness test. Human Kinetics, Champaign; 2001. ISBN 0-7360-3356-4.

Senior Fitness Test: dynamic balance

8 Foot Up and Go test: The participant from a sitting positions, gets up and walks a 4 foot distance, turns and comes back. Time is measured in seconds.

Reference:

Rikli & Jones, 2007. Senior fitness test. Human Kinetics, Champaign; 2001. ISBN 0-7360-3356-4.

Senior Fitness Test: aerobic capacity

Performed test: 6-minutes walking test. The participant walks during 6 minutes as fast as possible without running. The distance is measured in meters

Reference:

Rikli & Jones, 2007. Senior fitness test. Human Kinetics, Champaign; 2001. ISBN 0-7360-3356-4.

The Berg Balance Scale

Estimates postural stability using different positions. Construct: Static balance. Scale range (total score): 0-56 (the higher, the better).

Reference:

Berg et al, 1992. Measuring balance in the elderly: validation of an instrument. Can J Publ Health. 1992; 83:S7-11

Usual gait speed (4m)

The participants walks at his/her usual and comfortable pace for 4 m, time is measured in seconds.

Reference:

Bohannon et al, 1996. Walking speed: reference values and correlates for older adults. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1996; 24(2):86-90. doi: 10.2519/jospt.1996.24.2.86.

The instrumented Timed Up and Go test

The instrumented Timed Up and Go test, using a BTS Biomedical G-WALK triaxial accelerometer and gyroscope, to measure dynamic balance. The participant gets up from a chair, walks 3 meters at a normal pace, turns and walks back to sit down again.

Reference:

Mathias et al, 1986. Balance in elderly patients: the "get-up and go" test. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1986; 67(6):387-9.

Objectively measured habitual physical activity

Active and sedentary periods during everyday life recorded with an accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X model (Actigraph LLC, Pensacola, FL, USA)) that is worn on the hip with a belt for a 7 day period. The device is set to quantify the number of steps taken per day. In line with that, active-period intensities will be classified following the criteria developed by Freedson et al., 1998 as low, medium or high intensity and measured in minutes.

Reference:

Freedson et al, 1988. Calibration of the Computer Science and Applications, Inc. accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998; 30(5):777-81. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199805000-00021.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment test

It assesses different cognitive domains: attention and concentration, executive functions, memory, language, constructional skills, conceptual thinking, calculations, and orientation. The total possible score is 30 points; a score of 26 or above is considered normal.

Reference:

Coen et al, 2016.Strengths and Limitations of the MoCA for Assessing Cognitive Functioning Findings From a Large Representative Sample of Irish Older Adults. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology. 2016; 29(1):18-24. doi: 10.1177/0891988715598236.

Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test

It measures learning capacity. Evaluates short- and long-term verbal learning assessing the ability to learn a list of 15 common words.

Reference:

Lezak MD, Howieson DB, Loring DW. Neuropsychological Assessment. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 2004

Anxiety and Depression Goldberg Scale

It is used to assess the affective state. This questionnaire includes nine depression and nine anxiety items from the past month.

Construct: Anxiety and depression.

Scale range (Subescale score):

0-9 Anxiety (the higher, the worse). 0-9 Depression (the higher, the worse).

Reference:

Goldberg et al, 1988. Detecting anxiety and depression in general medical settings. Br Med J. 1988; 297(6653):897-9. doi:10.1136/bmj.297.6653.897.

Quality of Life Alzheimer´s disease scale

It measures the perceived quality of life, particularly, self-rated quality of life for people with cognitive impairments.

Construct: Health related quality of life. Scale range (total score): 13-52 (the higher, the better).

Reference:

Logsdon et al., 2002. Assessing quality of life in older adults with cognitive impairment. Psychosomatic Medicine. 2002;64:510-519.

de Jong Gierveld loneliness scale

This questionnaire includes characteristics of the social network, background variables, personality characteristics, and evaluative aspects.

Construct: Loneliness perception. Scale range (total score): 0-11 (the higher, the worse).

Reference:

De Jong Gierveld, J. (1987). Developing and testing a model of loneliness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53(1), 119-128.

Handgrip strength

For that the participant squeezes the dynamometer with maximum isometric effort for about 5 seconds. It measures strength in kg.

Reference:

Fess, 1992. Clinical assessment recommendations. 2. Casanova JS, editor. Chicago: American Society of Hand Therapists; 1992. Grip strength; pp. 41-45.

Anthropometric measurements: Height

To measure heigt the participant stands up and distance form the top of the head to the floor is measured in cm.

Anthropometric measurements: weight

Weight in Kg is measured usind a scale

Anthropometric measurements: perimeters

Hip and waist perimeters are measured (in cm) using a tape measure.

Frailty Tilburg

Tilburg Frailty index estimates frailty. Construct: Multidimensional frailty. Scale range (total score): 0-15 (the higher, the worse).

References:

Gobbens et al., 2010. The Tilburg Frailty Indicator: psychometric properties. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 11(5):344-55. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2009.11.003.

Frailty Fried

Fried's Frailty index estimates frailty.

Construct: Frailty phenotype. Scale range (total score): 0-5 (the higher, the worse).

References:

Fried et al., 2001. Frailty in older adults: evidence for a phenotype. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 56(3):M146-56. doi: 10.1093/gerona/56.3.M146.

Falls

Number of falls will be recorded from the medical records. Record from the last year and during the intervention will be recorded

Deaths

Number of deaths will be recorded during the intervention