Article

The purpose of this study was to compare two-year effects of once-weekly
and twice-weekly water exercise programmes at a day-service facility on the
health-related quality of life (HRQL) of frail elderly people. METHOD: This
single blind, prospective, longitudinal randomized pilot study separated 22
community-dwelling frail elderly people into once-weekly (once group: n = 10) and
twice-weekly (twice group: n = 12) groups: the two-year exercise interventions
were once- or twice-weekly 1-h sessions. Water exercise sessions comprised
warming-up on land, activities of daily living (ADL) exercise, stretching,
strength, and relaxation in water. The HRQL was evaluated using the Medical
Outcomes Survey Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36); ADL dependence was assessed
using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). RESULT: Both groups showed
significant increases over pre-intervention (pre) scores at 6 months and 12
months on Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary. In the once
group, both were lower at 24 months than at 6 months and 12 months. The FIM
scores were significantly different from pre at 6 months and 12 months in both
once and twice groups, and between pre and 24 month in the twice group.
CONCLUSION: Better than once-weekly exercise, twice-weekly water exercise
controlled deterioration of HRQL, ADL, and knee extensor muscle strength (KEX)
with ageing.

Langue : ANGLAIS