Feasibility of a community-based Functional Power Training program for older adults

Abstract

PurposeCommunity-based programs can increase and sustain physical activity participation in older adults, even for those who are physically frail. We studied the feasibility and potential effect of a 12-week structured Functional Power Training (FPT) program involving high velocities and low loads for older adults conducted in a common area of their housing estate.Patients and methodsThe structured FPT program was conducted in collaboration with a health promotion social enterprise and a community service provider based in a public housing site. We recruited nine inactive residents as participants to the single, group-based, twice-weekly program. Attendance and adverse event(s) were recorded throughout the program. The Short Physical Performance Battery, Timed Up and Go (TUG), and 30s Sit-to-Stand tests were used to assess functional outcomes pre- and postprogram. The FRAIL Scale was used to assess their frailty status, and a postprogram experience survey was conducted.ResultsEight subjects (aged 74±10 years) completed the program with an average overall attendance of 90.3%, with at least five participants present for each session. Changes in functional outcomes showed a moderate-to-large effect with significant improvement in TUG (p<0.01). In addition, participants either reversed or maintained their frailty status (p<0.01). Overall, the program was perceived to be well structured, engaging, as well as providing physical and psychosocial benefits. No exercise-related adverse events occurred during the program, and participants were keen to recommend this program to others.ConclusionCommunity-based structured FPT is safe and feasible for frail older adults, with the potential to improve function and reverse frailty status.

Effectiveness of a group functional power training program for frail older adults implemented through neighbourhood senior centres – a randomised controlled study

“…The results of the present study support such mode of exercise prescription and provided important evidence on translation by showing that a FPT program implemented in real-world settings can reduce frailty and improve training speci c functional performance. Our result strengthens available evidence that exercise interventions using simple equipment could be effective in reducing frailty (16,33). It is an important nding that such an exercise intervention (34) can be implemented in local community settings as an effective option to complement what is currently available.…”

“…We had previously shown the feasibility and potential of a small group functional power training (FPT) program using bodyweight, resistance bands and chairs for frail older adults at a local senior activity centre (16). However, this nding needs to be replicated in a larger study at multiple sites to ascertain the effectiveness of the intervention for wider translation.…”

Update on Interventions to Prevent or Reduce Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: a Scoping Review and Community Translation

“…1). Seven studies employed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) [22][23][24][25][26][27][28], two were singlearm feasibility studies [29,30], and one employed a cluster non-randomized controlled approach [31] (Tables 1, 2, and 3, Appendix B).…”

Efecto de un entrenamiento con ejercicios de autocarga a alta velocidad en el equilibrio dinámico y estático en mujeres adultas mayores

“…Tan et al obtuvieron resultados similares en TUG (reducción de 18%) mediante un entrenamiento de 12 semanas de duración con ejercicios que incluían autocarga, pero incorporándose además bandas elásticas para aumentar la intensidad. Dicho estudio no contó con grupo control para contrastar los resultados 27 . Además, el promedio inicial del TUG fue de 13,9 segundos, a diferencia de nuestro grupo, en el que la mediana del TUG inicial fue de 9,05 segundos en el grupo AV-NOR-MAL y 8,73 segundos en el grupo AV-ALTA.…”

“…Además, para el grupo AV-ALTA se fomentó a lo largo de todo el período del entrenamiento mantener la velocidad de ejecución de la fase concéntrica del ejercicio lo más rápido posible. La progresión se realizó cada 4 semanas y en función de la capacidad de cada participante 27 . El número final de repeticiones por serie fue de 6 para el ejercicio pararse-caminar-sentarse y de 18 o más para el resto de ejercicios.…”