A Randomised Controlled Trial to Measure the Effects of Twice-Daily Individual, Targeted, Strengthening, Balance and Endurance Exercise Sessions on Mobility, Quality of Life and Healthcare Utilisation for Frail Older Medical In-patients
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Frail Older Adults
- Sponsor
- University College Cork
- Enrollment
- 190
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Length of Stay
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 8 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This study will help to determine whether frail older medical inpatients will benefit from targeted exercise sessions performed twice daily while in hospital. Half of the patients will complete targeted strengthening, balance and endurance exercises and the other half, stretching and relaxation exercises. The exercise sessions will be assisted and supported by a senior physiotherapist.
Detailed Description
It is well known that older medical patients can experience functional decline following an acute hospital admission and this can persist for up to three months. The targeted exercises are designed to prevent this functional decline by maintaining the patients' strength, balance and endurance. To counterbalance the considerable time spent with the physiotherapy services in the intervention arm, the control group will receive stretches and relaxation exercises. Patients' length of stay is the primary outcome measure. Their physical performance and quality of life at discharge and at 3 months post discharge and their readmission rates are the secondary outcome measures.
Investigators
Dr Suzanne Timmons
Senior Lecturer in Gerontology and Rehabilitation
University College Cork
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •medical patients
- •anticipated length of stay greater than 2 days
- •planned for discharge home
- •mobility aid and /or assistance required on admission
Exclusion Criteria
- •contraindications to exercise
- •unable to follow commands in the English language
- •unable to exercise with the assistance of one person only
- •when active palliative care is required
- •when full isolation for containment of a contagious infection is required
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Length of Stay
Time Frame: At time of discharge from hospital (an expected average of 8 days post admission)
Patients length of hospital stay is recorded at the time of discharge from electronic admissions data
Secondary Outcomes
- Quality of Life(At time of discharge from hospital (an expected average of 8 days post admission); and again at 3 months post discharge)
- Re-admission Rate(From the time of hospital discharge to 3 months post discharge)
- Physical Performance(At time of discharge from hospital (an expected average of 8 days post admission); and again at 3 months post discharge)