Background: Decreased physical activity levels are an increasing concern, specifically for the
aging population. Older adults (>65 years) are able to achieve health benefits from participating
in a regular exercise program based on studies done in younger community-dwelling older
adults. However, there is less research investigating the efficacy of exercise for improving
physical function among the older adult population in assisted living settings. Barriers among the
research that has been done so far include generalizability, specificity and varying exercise
prescription details. The present study investigated the novel idea of using a treadmill with a
harness system, to engage older adults in aerobic exercise. It is unknown if it is feasible to recruit
and retain older adults in assisted living settings for such a treadmill study and if older adults
would be able to achieve intensities associated with health benefits.
Objectives: To determine the feasibility of recruitment and retention of older adults in an assisted
living facility for a pilot treadmill walking study. Secondary objectives include: to identify
determinants of participation and compliance with the treadmill study and to determine if the
older adult population in assisted living settings are able to achieve exercise intensities aligned
with established guidelines that are associated with health benefits.
Design and Setting: Pilot, multi-visit feasibility study in an Assisted Living Facility in the
Kitchener-Waterloo Region with care needs ranging from Retirement Home to Palliative Care
Population: Older adults (>65y) living in an assistive living facility who could follow two-step
commands and were able to walk two metres independently (with or without the use of an aid).
Methods: The feasibility of recruitment and retention was determined by recording: the number
of older adults who consented to participate in treadmill walking for three weeks; the number of
older adults (and/or their legal representatives) who declined treadmill participation and reasons
as to why; and the number of participants who completed the six treadmill sessions. Healthrelated
and demographic characteristics were collected to characterize the population while age,
number of co-morbidities, number of medications, cognition, fear of falling and walking ability
were evaluated as potential determinants of participation. A detailed attendance log was used to
assess compliance with the study. To determine if participants could achieve the recommended
exercise intensity associated with health benefits, exercise intensity (40 %HRR) and duration
(twenty minutes) achieved after the final treadmill session were reported.
Results: Thirty percent of the residents on the eligibility list were recruited and consented to
participate in the treadmill study. Average compliance was 94.4%±10.8%; one treadmill
participant dropped out due to declining health. There are no significant differences between
treadmill participants and those who chose not to walk on the treadmill. Treadmill participants
were able to achieve the recommended intensity (40%HRR) and achieved an average intensity of
50.3% ± 30.2% and a frequency of three sessions in one week. Average total duration was
approximately five minutes shy (14:53min ± 6:43min) of the recommendation of twenty
minutes.
Conclusion: The current study provides preliminary evidence that it is feasible to recruit and
retain older adults in assisted living facilities to participate in a three week treadmill walking
study, however it may be difficult to recruit a large number of individuals for a larger study.
Treadmill participants were able to achieve ACSM’s recommended intensity and frequency for
aerobic or endurance exercise. Secondly, the older adult population living in assisted settings
may be able to achieve the recommended exercise prescription targets for cardiovascular
training, specifically intensity and frequency; however they may need more than three weeks of
progression or multiple sessions per day to obtain the recommended duration.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:WATERLOO/oai:uwspace.uwaterloo.ca:10012/4632 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Johnson, Jenna |
| Source Sets | University of Waterloo Electronic Theses Repository |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
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