RESISTANCE TRAINING PROGRAM WITH ELDERLY NURSING HOME RESIDENTS LEADS TO IMPROVED BALANCE AND MOBILITY

Abstract

1524 Thirty-four elderly nursing home (NH) residents were recruited to participate in a 12-wk resistance training program (RTP) to determine if the strength gains following the RTP would be associated with improved balance, mobility, level of assistance needed by NH staff, and self-perceived health status. Subjects were medically stable, ambulatory for at least short distances and without serious cognitive impairment. A 5-rep maximum was used to determine strength in elbow flexion, elbow extension, overhead shoulder press, bilateral shoulder row, knee flexion, and knee extension. Balance and mobility were assessed using the Berg Balance, Duke Mobility Skills, and Sit-to-Stand tests. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was used to determine the usual level of assistance provided by the NH staff, and the European Quality of Life Instrument (EuroQOL) and Geriatric Depression Scale(GDS) were used to determine self-perceived health status. Testing was conducted before and after the RTP. In addition, half of the subjects were tested 12 wk before the program began, to provide control data. The other half of the subjects were tested 12 weeks after the program ended, to quantify post-training changes. The RTP was held 3x/wk and consisted of four leg and four arm exercises. Subjects progressed from one to three sets of 8-12 reps of each exercise, with gradually increased resistance. ANOVA and paired t-tests were used to guide analyses. Twenty-four subjects completed the program (age: 84 ± 7 yr; time in NH: 17 ± 16 mo; RTP attendance: 90 ± 12%). There was no change in any variable during the control period. After the RTP, strength scores improved 63 - 147% (p <.0001) and balance and mobility tests improved 10 - 34% (p <.006). However, 12 weeks after the RTP ended, elbow extension, knee extension, overhead press, and the Sit-to-Stand mobility test had relapsed 21 - 38% (p <.03). The improvements did not carry over to a decreased level of assistance provided by the NH staff, nor did it affect self-perceived health status, as the FIM, EuroQOL, and GDS scores did not change throughout the study. Following a 12-wk RTP with elderly nursing home residents, gains in strength were associated with improvements in balance and mobility.