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Published on: July 5, 2017
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Progressive resistance training in a post-acute, older, inpatient setting: A randomised controlled feasibility study
Sinéad A Coleman1, Conal J Cunningham2, Niamh Murphy1
1Physiotherapy Department, St James's Hospital, Ireland.
Journal of Frailty, Sarcopenia and Falls
|April 5, 2021
Summary
Progressive resistance training is safe for frail older inpatients. This study found it feasible and acceptable, though further research is needed to confirm effectiveness in this population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Progressive resistance training (PRT) effectively addresses functional decline in community-dwelling older adults.
- Concerns exist regarding the safety and acceptance of PRT for frail older individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of implementing progressive resistance training (PRT) in an inpatient, post-acute rehabilitation setting for older adults.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled feasibility study was conducted with 33 older inpatients undergoing post-acute rehabilitation.
- Feasibility was evaluated through safety, recruitment, adherence (63%), retention (82%), and satisfaction measures.
- Clinical assessments captured changes in body structure, function, activity, and participation at baseline and six weeks.
Main Results:
- No serious adverse events were reported during the study.
- While both treatment and control groups showed improvement, no significant clinical differences were observed between groups.
- The study included 33 patients, randomized into a treatment (n=16) and control group (n=17).
Conclusions:
- Progressive resistance training (PRT) is a safe and acceptable intervention for frail older adults in a post-acute inpatient setting.
- Further investigation into the effectiveness of PRT for this specific population is warranted.
