54 EXWELL: OUTCOMES FROM A SIX-WEEK COMMUNITY EXERCISE REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS

Abstract

Abstract Background Chronic diseases (CD) are long-term conditions, which often require ongoing medical treatment and have the potential to limit the quality of life of the people who live with them. Exercise rehabilitation has been shown to improve physical functioning and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in this cohort. ExWell is a community-based exercise rehabilitation (CBER) program that offers group exercise rehabilitation classes to individuals with a range of CD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of 6 weeks of participation in the ExWell Medical program on physical functioning and HRQoL in a diverse CD population. Methods Participants with a range of CD were referred by healthcare practitioners to the HSE-funded ExWell Medical program based in a community setting. Outcome variables included measurements of body composition, functional capacity and health related quality of life. Assessments were taken at baseline and 6 weeks. Participants were encouraged to attend ExWell Medical classes twice weekly for the duration of the study. Each forty-five minute class included a warm up, aerobic, resistance, core and balance exercises and a cool-down. Results Three hundred and ten people (mean age 70.7 ± 7.7 years, 48.3% Female) participated. Statistically and clinically significant improvements were found in cardiorespiratory fitness, lower body strength, balance, co-ordination, body composition and health related quality of life. The greatest improvements were observed in those with the lowest levels of fitness at baseline, and the oldest participants. Improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and lower body strength matched the recognized clinically meaningful differences in the entire group sample and greatly exceeded them in those in the lowest tertile of fitness at baseline. Conclusion The ExWell mixed CD CBER program is an effective approach to rehabilitation delivery in clinical practice. Clinically meaningful improvements can be achieved within 6 weeks of participation, and older and frail participants show greatest improvements overall.