Effects of physical activity intervention on quality of life, gait and balance in community dwelling elderly

Abstract

Background: Physical activity can help elderly healthy, it also can prevent and decrease disability induced across aging and chronic disease. Based on these findings, health can be improved through physical function performance and prevention of disability. Current studies still lack integrated research results of the effectiveness of the elders’ physical activity intervention on their quality of life, gait and balance. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of exercise interventions on the quality of life, gait and balance designed for physical activity with older people in the community. Methods: This study utilized the five-hierarchy evidence-based nursing steps of systematic literature investigation of studies concerning the application of physical activity for community dwelling elderly conducted by Ciliska in 2001. A computerized literature search was carried out to retrieve all randomized controlled clinical trials. Two of our research teams independently assessed the study quality and extracted data. Oxford Center of Evidence-based Medicine's (2011) critical appraisal was made to access trials hierarchy level and recommended level. Results: The results of this systemic review found that whether physical activities can improve the quality of life is unclear. From the results of other primary analysis, it was found that the intervention of physical activities can help the community dwelling elderly with gait and balance. Discussion: Through the research results, the impact of the execution of the physical activities on these community dwelling elders’ quality of life, gait and balance can be realized, so as to serve as proof of the physical and psychological benefits of these measures of physical activities to the elderly in the community and to enhance the balance of the gait and sense of balance. Conclusion: This systematic review helps reduce morbidity and occurrence of falls, and the goal to improve the quality of life of the elderly in the community is achieved.