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Immobility and severe dementia: when is physiotherapy treatment appropriate?

Physiotherapy Department, Moorgreen Hospital, Southampton

Research of the effects of physiotherapy treatment on the mobility skills of elderly people with a dementing illness is limited. Seven out of 16 patients of a long-term care hospital ward (psychiatric) completed all phases of an ABAB single case study. Mobility skills increased in six of these when physiotherapy (consisting of body awareness, music and movement and functional mobility training) was introduced for the first time. Latency of change was between one and six weeks with five to nine weeks of treatment given before optimal response was obtained. When treatment was withdrawn and reintroduced again these participants were inconsistent in their mobility response. Nine of the 16 patients withdrew because of deteriorating health. Results suggest that sitting balance on initial assessment may be associated with withdrawal. This study supports previous findings of improvement in mobility following physiotherapy treatment. Further research is required to test the generalizability of these results.

Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 8, No. 3, 226-232 (1994)
DOI: 10.1177/026921559400800307


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