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Enhancement of Physical Fitness in Older Adults

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Physical Impairment
Pain
Interventions
Other: Fitness exercise program
Registration Number
NCT01421628
Lead Sponsor
Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen
Brief Summary

Ageing is related to a decrease in physical fitness, disability and age related symptoms like nocturnal leg cramps (NLC). Our research is focused on the enhancement of physical activity and mobility to increase physical fitness and decrease disability and nocturnal cramp in older adults.

Detailed Description

The ageing population leads to an increase of chronic disease and disability and to a decrease of physical activity and ADL performance. This circle can be reversed by physical exercise to increase physical fitness.

The goal of this research is to establish the effects of a trainings program on ADL performance, physical fitness and nocturnal cramps. Furthermore the characteristics from participants who benefit from the program will be investigated by the research.

The study design is a randomized intervention study. Participants are elderly people, age 65 years and older, without cognitive impairment.

Intervention: The intervention is a physical trainings program. The intensity is moderate, the frequency is daily and the total duration is 6 weeks. The control group will be provided with an education program.

Main parameters are: physical fitness, nocturnal cramp severity and frequency.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
180
Inclusion Criteria
  • For patients to be included in our study, they had to experience regular episodes of NLC and are in good mental health.
  • The participants had to agree to the study protocol and complete the program.
  • After eligibility was verified, written informed consent was obtained.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Older adults taking quinine or sleep medication and those with orthopedic problems or with severe medical problems and co morbidity, which can cause muscular spasms and/or cramps.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
exerciseFitness exercise program-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Nocturnal crampsSix weeks

Visual analogue scale (VAS)

Physical fitnesssix weeks

Strength, balance

ADL performancesix weeks

Performance based ADL test

Well beingsix weeks

Questionnaires like SF-36

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Frequency nocturnal crampSix weeks

Number of cramp attacks per day.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Kinese Fysiotherapeuten

🇳🇱

Appingedam, Groningen, Netherlands

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