Robin Osborne
A local research study into the benefits of tailored exercise programs for aged-care residents is confirming what most people would regard as common sense: it is far better to engage in resistance and balance training than to spend every waking hour in a chair or bed.
Yet the study by physiotherapist and PhD candidate Jennie Hewitt is the first of its kind ever undertaken in Australia or internationally, and it is showing remarkably positive results.
According to Jennie, who is the Positive Living co-ordinator for Feros Care in the northern rivers, falls have been reduced markedly among members of the participating groups, while balance, mobility and walking speed have been much enhanced.
Jennie has been working with a group of 221 residents in northern NSW and SE Queensland ranging from 70 to 101 years of age. So far her research, part of a PhD through the University of Sydney, has shown improvements of up to 50 per cent in mobility and falls-reduction.
Support for the exercise programs is provided by facility staff as well as final- year physiotherapy students whose practicum placements are coordinated by the University Centre for Rural Health North Coast.
The UCRH arranges placements for physio and occupational therapy students in aged care and primary schools in Byron Shire, Ballina, Lismore, Casino and Kyogle as an essential part of their degree work.
Jennie said, ‘While it is generally accepted that exercise is more beneficial than passive treatments, it is not enough, and indeed can be dangerous, to simply ask residents to get up out of their chairs and walk.’
High-tech equipment
‘Studies that used this approach returned an increase in falls rates. It is important that individualised, progressive strength and balance work be prescribed.’
Central to the program is a range of high-tech exercise equipment for seniors provided free of charge by leading Finnish company HUR. The equipment was loaned for the duration of the trial, with three aged-care facilities going on to purchase it after seeing the benefits provided to their residents.
Jennie Hewitt hopes the final results of the study will provide an impetus for older people in the broader community to be encouraged and helped to participate in appropriate exercise programs.
‘It is not just people in residential aged care who spend inordinate amounts of time either sitting or lying down,’ she said.
‘Many elderly people at home are in similar circumstances and should be able to derive comparable benefits from undertaking properly planned and assisted exercise.
‘But they can’t do it on their own, and require support to access the professionals and services to assist them manage their wellbeing.’
Robin Osborne is editor of GPSpeak.
I commend this study to finally validate what we have known for many years. In South Australia there is a program called Strength for life which has been in operation for over 12 years, that offers individualised strength and balance programs for over 50’s. The program currently runs in around 90 facilities throughout SA, including numerous Aged Care facilities, and has helped over 12000 older people since inception. Targetted strength and balance exercises, often not using machines, and not involving seated exercise, definitely still improves balance, confidence and ultimately results in fewer falls in and out of facilities.