The Effect of Chair-Based Exercises on Exercise Perception and Risk of Falling in Inactive Older Adults Who Live at Nursing Home

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chair-based exercises on exercise perception, fall risk, and health-related quality of life in inactive older adults. The study was carried out on nursing home residents older than 65 years with an inactive lifestyle. The Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale, Tinetti Assessment Battery, and Nottingham Health Profile were used in the assessments. The Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale score and Tinetti Balance and Gait Test scores of the participants in the exercise group were higher than those of the control group. The study concluded that chair-based exercises are beneficial for sedentary older adults in respect of the perception of exercise and risk of falling.

A Chair-Based Music–Kinetic Combined Exercise Program as an Alternative Approach for Increasing Health, Functional Capacity, and Physical Fitness Indices in Middle-Aged Pre-Menopausal Women

“…This study showed that a 10-week supervised music–kinetic integrated combined exercise program using chair-based seated and chair-assisted standing flexibility, balance, and strength exercises with body weight or small auxiliary means (dumbbells, Pilates mini balls, and rings, anti-stress balls, and hand grippers) resulted in a 12% gain in flexibility of the hamstring and/or lower back muscles, a 50–51% gain in static balance, a 10% gain in dynamic balance, a 10–13% gain in maximal handgrip strength, and a 44–56% gain in upper body endurance strength. The findings of the present study are in line with previous investigations reporting similar gains in neuromuscular parameters (flexibility or static and dynamic balance or lower and upper body strength) after different chair-based exercise programs in older and frail individuals with chronic diseases or injuries [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ] as well as in employees of different working environments (i.e., offices and hospitals) [ 13 , 14 ]. The results of previous studies that implemented different combined exercise programs without chairs demonstrate conflicting results.…”

“…In this context, during the last few decades, different sports and health professionals all over the world have focused on the design, implementation, and evaluation of different serial and integrated combined exercise programs using various activities and training means [ 13 , 14 , 23 , 24 , 26 , 28 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ]. Although chair-based exercise programs have gained popularity as an alternative mode of exercise for improving health, functional capacity, and physical fitness, especially in older and frail individuals [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], only a few studies have examined the effects of chair-based exercise programs in healthy middle-aged individuals [ 13 , 14 ]. This study was designed and implemented with success and safety (without adverse side effects or injuries) in middle-aged pre-menopausal women with a 10-week supervised music–kinetic chair-based integrated combined exercise program using chair-based seated and chair-assisted standing flexibility, balance, and strength exercises as well as low-impact aerobic dance movements.…”

“…For this reason, during the last few decades, chairs have been used as an alternative training means for implementing various exercise programs (flexibility, balance, strength, and aerobic capacity) in different populations (i.e., healthy older individuals, young and middle-aged employees, individuals with chronic diseases or mobility difficulties, pregnant women, and untrained individuals) [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ] and have several advantages. First of all, the use of a chair minimizes the risk of falls and injury during exercise by offering better stability, support of the human body, and safety to the trainees [ 7 , 10 , 15 ].…”

“…Moreover, exercise programs using chairs as a basic training means can be easily adapted and implemented in any indoor or outdoor place (without requiring particularly large space), such as in the gym, at home, in the workplace, and in a classroom, courtyard, park, rehabilitation center, or hospital room. In the scientific literature, several studies have examined the effect of chair-based exercise programs in different populations reporting promising results in various cardiovascular and neuromuscular health-related parameters (i.e., gait, balance strength, flexibility, blood pressure, heart rate, and musculoskeletal pain) [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. It should be mentioned that the vast majority of the aforementioned studies (a) were performed in elderly frail people or individuals with chronic diseases [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], while there is limited information on healthy middle-aged individuals and (b) were focused on improving single or specific indices of health and physical fitness.…”

“…In the scientific literature, several studies have examined the effect of chair-based exercise programs in different populations reporting promising results in various cardiovascular and neuromuscular health-related parameters (i.e., gait, balance strength, flexibility, blood pressure, heart rate, and musculoskeletal pain) [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. It should be mentioned that the vast majority of the aforementioned studies (a) were performed in elderly frail people or individuals with chronic diseases [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], while there is limited information on healthy middle-aged individuals and (b) were focused on improving single or specific indices of health and physical fitness. To the best of our knowledge, no previous study has examined the effectiveness of a “holistic” chair-based exercise approach focusing on all the important functional and physical fitness parameters (aerobic capacity, strength, flexibility, and coordination abilities).…”