The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Nov 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEffects of a physical activity intervention on measures of physical performance: Results of the lifestyle interventions and independence for Elders Pilot (LIFE-P) study.
The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), which includes walking, balance, and chair stands tests, independently predicts mobility disability and activities of daily living disability. To date, however, there is no definitive evidence from randomized controlled trials that SPPB scores can be improved. Our objective was to assess the effect of a comprehensive physical activity (PA) intervention on the SPPB and other physical performance measures. ⋯ A structured PA intervention improved the SPPB score and other measures of physical performance. An intervention that improves the SPPB performance may also offer benefit on more distal health outcomes, such as mobility disability.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Feb 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialMulticomponent geriatric intervention for elderly inpatients with delirium: a randomized, controlled trial.
Delirium is a common syndrome with poor prognosis affecting elderly inpatients. Treatment is mainly based on common sense with wide variations in practice. We investigated whether intensified, multicomponent geriatric treatment could improve the prognosis of delirious patients. ⋯ Faster alleviation of delirium and improved cognition justify good, comprehensive geriatric care for these patients although treatment produced no significant improvements in hard endpoints of prognosis.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Apr 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialFeasibility and reliability of four pain self-assessment scales and correlation with an observational rating scale in hospitalized elderly demented patients.
Acute and chronic pain is common in hospitalized demented elderly people, yet there are limited data about the performance of pain assessment tools in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of four pain self-assessment scales in this population and compare their performance to an observational pain rating scale. ⋯ Self-assessment pain scales can be used reliably in the vast majority of older hospitalized patients with mild to moderate dementia and in nearly half of those with severe dementia. Observational pain rating scales correlate only moderately with self-assessment and should be reserved for those few patients who have demonstrated that they cannot complete a self-assessment.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Feb 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialTai Chi and fall reductions in older adults: a randomized controlled trial.
The authors' objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a 6-month Tai Chi intervention for decreasing the number of falls and the risk for falling in older persons. ⋯ A three-times-per-week, 6-month Tai Chi program is effective in decreasing the number of falls, the risk for falling, and the fear of falling, and it improves functional balance and physical performance in physically inactive persons aged 70 years or older.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jul 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffects of an exercise intervention on immunologic parameters in frail elderly nursing home residents.
Aging is associated with decline in both cell-mediated and humoral immunity and may contribute to increased incidence and severity of infections in frail elderly. Exercise, depending on intensity, has significant effects on the immune system. We conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial of a 32-week functionally oriented exercise program in frail elderly living in nursing homes and determined whether the exercise intervention was associated with a change in immune parameters in this frail elderly nursing home population. ⋯ A 32-week exercise intervention did not bring about beneficial or detrimental effects on immune parameters in the frail elderly nursing home population and may explain why the intervention was not associated with a change in the incidence of infections in the intervention group compared with the control group.