Article

OBJECTIVE: To measure the extent to which improved sensorimotor function and
balance resulting from a 12-week exercise intervention were retained 12 weeks
after exercise cessation in older adults recently discharged from hospital.
DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with reassessment 12 weeks after exercise
cessation. SETTING: Home-based exercises. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (N=180) aged 65
years and older recently discharged from hospital (mean length of stay,
12.3+/-10.6d). INTERVENTIONS: Weight-bearing (WB) exercises (n=60), seated
resistance (SR) exercises (n=60), or social visits (n=60). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA), a composite sensorimotor fall-risk score,
and 2 measures of controlled leaning balance assessed at baseline, immediately
after the intervention (12wk, 95% assessed), and again 12 weeks later (24wk, 92%
assessed). RESULTS: After the initial improvements in outcomes found at 12 weeks,
both the SR and WB exercise groups showed detraining effects at 24 weeks. The PPA
fall-risk scores for both SR and WB groups returned to close to baseline values,
and there was no significant difference between groups at 24 weeks when
controlling for baseline scores (P=.924). WB exercise participants lost up to
half of the improvement in the maximal balance range and coordinated stability
tests. There was no difference between groups for the maximal balance range test
at 24 weeks when controlling for baseline scores (P=.207), but between-group
differences were maintained for the coordinated stability test (P=.017).
CONCLUSIONS: Balance improvements and fall-risk reductions associated with a
12-week home-based exercise program in older adults were partially to totally
lost 12 weeks after the cessation of the intervention. These significant
detraining effects suggest that sustained adherence to falls prevention exercise
programs is required to reduce fall risk.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS