Feasibility, safety and preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of a home-based exercise programme for older people with Alzheimer's disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial. (May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suttanon, Plaiwan; Hill, Keith D; Said, Catherine M; Williams, Susan B; Byrne, Karin N; LoGiudice, Dina; Lautenschlager, Nicola T; Dodd, Karen J
• Is Part Of: Clinical rehabilitation. Volume 27:Number 5(2013)
• Page Start: 427
• Page End: 438
• Publication Date: 2013-05
• Subjects: Balance and strengthening exercise -- falls risk -- Alzheimer's disease -- randomized controlled trial; Medical rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 617.03
• DOI: 10.1177/0269215512460877
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-2155

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a home-based exercise programme for people with Alzheimer's disease, and to provide preliminary evidence of programme effectiveness in improving balance and mobility and reducing falls risk. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Setting: Community. Participants: Forty people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (mean age 81.9, SD 5.72; 62.5% female). Interventions: Participants were randomized to a six-month home-based individually tailored balance, strengthening and walking exercise programme (physiotherapist) or a six-month home-based education programme (control) (occupational therapist). Both programmes provided six home-visits and five follow-up phone calls. Main measures: Balance, mobility, falls and falls risk were measured at baseline and programme completion. Intention-to-treat analysis using a generalized linear model with group allocation as a predictor variable was performed to evaluate programme effectiveness. Feasibility and adverse events were systematically recorded at each contact. Results: Fifty-eight per cent of the exercise group finished the programme, completing an average of 83% of prescribed sessions, with no adverse events reported. Functional Reach improved significantly ( P = 0.002) in the exercise group (mean (SD), 2.28 (4.36)) compared to the control group (–2.99 (4.87)). Significant improvement was also observed for the Falls Risk for Older People – Community score ( P = 0.008) and trends for improvement on several other balance, mobility, falls and falls risk measures for the exercise group compared to the control group. Conclusions: The exercise programme was feasible and safe and may help improve balance and mobility performance and reduce falls risk in people with Alzheimer's disease.