The benefits of engagement in exercise have consistently been shown to have numerous benefits related to general health, functional and cognitive status. A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reported that engaging nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in an exercise program positively impacted their functional decline in Activity of Daily Living (ADL) status.
The study looked at having ambulatory residents with mild to severe AD participate in an exercise program (N=67). The exercise program consisted of one hour twice weekly walking, strength, balance and flexibility training for 12 months. “The strength training focused on the lower extremity. Exercises included squatting at different levels or repeated stand ups from a chair, lateral elevation of the legs in a standing position and rising on the toes. Balance training consisted of small step trail exercises using cones/hoops on the ground and one or two leg balances on the ground or on foam-rubber ground sheets.” A control group of similar residents (N=67) were not engaged in an exercise program but received routine medical care. A baseline ADL assessment was completed on each participant.
After 12 months, a second ADL assessment was competed on each participant. Results showed that the exercise participant group demonstrated a slower rate of decline in ADL function (approximately 1/3) compared with the non-exercise group. SOAR offers an excellent selection of exercise products that can be used with a wide range of people regardless of physical and cognitive ability.
Rolland, Y., et al. Exercise program for nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease: A 1-Year randomized, controlled trial. J Am Geriatr Soc, 2007, 55:158-165
