Feasibility, Acceptability and Effects of a Home-Based Exercise Program Using a Gerontechnology on Physical...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Digital Health

Background:

• Physical activity is crucial for maintaining functional capacity in older adults.
• Many older adults remain inactive, increasing their risk of functional decline.
• Home-based interventions are needed to support physical activity in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a home-based exercise program (HEP) utilizing motion capture gerontechnology.
• To evaluate the effects of the HEP on functional status in community-living older adults at risk of decline.
• To determine the safety and efficacy of this technology-assisted intervention.

Main Methods:

• An interventional clinical trial involving 16 older adults (≥65 years) post-minor injury.
• Participants were assigned to either a 12-week HEP group or a control group.
• Functional status was measured using validated questionnaires and physical tests at baseline, 3, and 6 months.

Main Results:

• The HEP demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability, with an 86% adherence rate and 87.5% average movement quality.
• The HEP group showed a significant improvement in walking speed at 3 months (+0.25 m/sec) compared to the control group (+0.05 m/sec).
• Improvements in walking speed were maintained at follow-up, though the SF-36 global score only increased in the control group.

Conclusions:

• A 12-week home-based exercise program using Jintronix® gerontechnology is feasible, acceptable, and safe for older adults recovering from minor injuries.
• This intervention effectively increases walking speed, a key predictor of adverse events in the elderly.
• The observed improvements in walking speed are sustainable over time, offering a promising approach for fall prevention and functional maintenance.