Effectiveness of Exercise, Walking, and Education on Mental Health, Mobility and Quality of Life in Elderly Residents of Nursing Homes

January 8, 2026 updated by: Antonija Hrkać, University of Mostar

Effectiveness of Short-term Supervised Group Exercise Therapy, Walking and Education on Mental Health, Quality of Life and Mobility in Elderly Residents of Nursing Homes

Clinical Trial This clinical trial aims to determine the impact of physiotherapy interventions on mental health, quality of life, and spinal mobility in older adults. The physiotherapy intervention will consist of group exercise therapy (3 times a week, 40 minutes, 4 weeks in total), walking activities (3 times a week, 30 minutes, 4 weeks in total), and education on optimal positions and movements in daily activities (one session lasting 60 minutes)

The main questions it aims to answer are:

  1. Are group exercise therapy and walking optimal for reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety and improving quality of life in older adults placed in nursing homes in a short period of time
  2. Do physiotherapy interventions improve spinal mobility (anteflexion and extension)?

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Population ageing is a worldwide phenomenon resulting from increased living standards, improved healthcare, and decreased birth rates. The proportion of people aged 60 and over continues to grow and is expected to exceed two billion by 2050, with 80% of them living in developed countries.

Ageing is associated with a decline in physical and mental capacities, increased risk of chronic diseases, and social isolation, leading to higher healthcare and social costs. However, many of these challenges can be prevented or mitigated through timely interventions. Global health initiatives promote Healthy and Active Ageing, focusing on maintaining longevity, well-being, and quality of life. Physical activity and exercise therapy are the most effective interventions for promoting physical and mental health, highlighting the essential role of physiotherapy. Physiotherapists are well-positioned to promote healthy ageing due to their accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and expertise in managing a wide range of health conditions. Increasing evidence shows that physiotherapy not only enhances physical function but also contributes significantly to the mental well-being of older adults.

Recent systematic reviews with meta-analyses have reported positive effects of exercise therapy and physical activity on reducing depression, anxiety, and improving quality of life among older adults. An umbrella review reports high benefits of physical activity for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress across a wide range of adult populations, including the general population, people with diagnosed mental health disorders, and people with chronic disease. A systematic review with meta-analysis confirmed exercise as an effective treatment for anxiety. However, the heterogeneity of the included studies does not provide clearer information about the optimal exercise methods, as well as the necessary parameters and ways of implementing exercise therapy. In addition, individual studies show conflicting results on the effects of physical activity in nursing home residents; one reports benefits of a structured exercise program on depressive symptoms and quality of life, while another finds no significant improvement with supervised moderate aerobic and resistance training.

Thus, this study aim is to determine the optimal methods of exercise therapy and physical activity, as well as other parameters such as frequency, intensity, supervision, and method of implementation, in improving mental health and quality of life in elderly people in a nursing home.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

44

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • both sexes, aged ≥ 65 years, with an optimal level of functional and cognitive abilities necessary to perform the exercises and understand the measurement scales.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • significant cognitive and neurological impairments, functionally immobile persons, and persons who refuse to participate.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group
22 participants
Behavioral: Physiotherapy

  1. Exercise therapy - stretching and breathing exercises, stabilization exercises, mobility exercises, and balance and coordination exercises.

    The exercises will be performed in a standing and lying position, with the possibility of using aids - gymnastic ball and resistance bands. Implementation - three times a week for 40 minutes, for a total of four weeks.

  2. Walking activity - three times a week for half an hour.
  3. Education on optimal positions and movement in everyday life activities - at the beginning of the study in one session lasting 60 minutes.
No Intervention: Control group
20 participants

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Depression and Anxiety
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (0=best, 21=worst)
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Self-reported measure of health
Time Frame: From enrollment to end of the treatment at 4 weeks
The 36-Item Short Form Survey; Eight domains: Physical functioning, Role limitations due to physical health, Role limitations due to emotional problems, Energy/fatigue, Emotional well-being, Social functioning, Pain and General Health (0 - worst, 100 - best)
From enrollment to end of the treatment at 4 weeks
Range of motion of extension and flexion in the lumbar spine
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Goniometer (extension 0-40°, flexion 0-70°; higher score best)
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Mostar

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 20, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 5, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

January 8, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 15, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 15, 2025

First Posted (Estimated)

November 19, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

January 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 8, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Studija V

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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