The Effects of Exercise Snacking on Physical Fitness, Cognitive Function, and Chronic Pain in Institutionalized Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Active, not recruiting
- Sponsor
- Ivan Patrício
- Enrollment
- 75
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Physical Fitness Assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)
Overview
Brief Summary
This study aims to compare the effects of two different exercise approaches on health and well-being in older adults living in residential care facilities. One approach, called "exercise snacking," consists of short and frequent bouts of physical activity spread throughout the day, while the other involves longer, structured exercise sessions performed a few times per week.
Approximately 75 adults aged 65 years and older will be randomly assigned to one of the two exercise programs and will participate for 12 weeks. The study will examine whether exercise snacking is as effective as conventional exercise in improving physical fitness, cognitive function, chronic pain intensity, quality of life, and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The researchers hypothesize that short, intermittent exercise sessions may provide similar or greater health benefits compared to traditional exercise programs and may represent a practical and accessible strategy to promote physical activity in older adults living in institutional settings.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 65 Years to — (Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Age ≥ 65 years
- •Residence in Associação Casapiana de Solidariedade
Exclusion Criteria
- •Severe cognitive impairment (MMSE 0-10)
- •Unstable medical conditions (e.g., decompensated heart failure)
- •Refusal of consent
- •Total inability to walk/move.
Arms & Interventions
Exercise Snacks
The Exercise Snacks intervention comprises two daily sessions of approximately ten minutes each, five days per week (total ≈ 100 minutes/week). Each ten-minute session consists largely of alternating one-minute bouts of activity and one-minute rest. The exercises followed a structured three-month progression. Intensity targeted at a 4 on Borg CR10 Scale "somewhat hard" with progression rules (increase repetitions, range of motion and exercise difficulty).
Intervention: Exercise Snacks (Behavioral)
Conventional Exercise
Conventional Exercise comprises two supervised 50 minutes sessions per week (total ≈ 100 minutes/week). Organized in one-minute exercise/one-minute rest intervals equal in content to the snacks but performed in longer continuous practice. The exercises followed a structured three-month progression. Intensity targeted at a 4 on Borg CR10 Scale "somewhat hard" with progression rules (increase repetitions, range of motion and exercise difficulty).
Intervention: Conventional Exercise (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Physical Fitness Assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 months
The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is a test of lower extremity functioning that combines scores from usual gait speed, standing balance, and chair stand tests. Scores range from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating better physical functioning.
Secondary Outcomes
- The 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12)(From baseline to 3 months)
- Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ)(From baseline to 3 months)
- Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)(From baseline to 3 months)
- Anxiety and depression assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) subscale scores(From baseline to 3 months)
Investigators
Ivan Patrício
Principal Investigator
Lusofona University