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Group physical activity for demented older adults — feasibility and effectiveness

The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Wingate Institute, Israel, neyael{at}wincol.ac.il

Salit Axelrad

The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Wingate Institute, Israel

Ester Argov

The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Wingate Institute, Israel

Objectives: (1) To examine the feasibility of group physical activity in a day-care routine. (2) To assess the impact of this programme on functional fitness.

Design: Ten-week observational period, followed by 12 weeks of intervention in randomized controlled design, followed by 12 weeks of intervention only.

Setting: A day-care centre for demented older individuals.

Participants: Twenty-nine demented (Mini-Mental State Exam score 13.3 ± 5.83) day-care attendees, mean ± SD age 76.9 ± 6.72.

Intervention: Group physical activity vs. social activity, followed by increased-intensity physical activity for both groups.

Measurements: Performance rate (PR) in physical activity sessions, Timed Get Up and Go (TGUG), Sit-to-Stand (STS) and Functional Reach (FR).

Results: Approximately 60% of the participants performed almost all movements or repetitions in both intervention phases. No improvements were observed following the first phase of physical activity. A reduction of 3.2 seconds (±1.2 SE) was noted in the time needed to perform the TGUG following the increased-intensity physical activity.

Conclusion: A carefully tailored group physical activity, conducted twice weekly with a group of 12—15 participants in a medium size room, and led by a physical activity teacher assisted by a staff aide, is feasible. Although physical activity performed mainly while sitting is ineffective, it can be effective to a meaningful degree when performed while standing or walking.

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