Pain, Physical Impairment
Conditions
Keywords
older adults, exercise, stretching, mobility
Brief summary
Ageing is related to a decrease in physical fitness, disability and age related symptoms like nocturnal leg cramps (NLC). Our research is focused on the enhancement of physical activity and mobility to increase physical fitness and decrease disability and nocturnal cramp in older adults.
Detailed description
The ageing population leads to an increase of chronic disease and disability and to a decrease of physical activity and ADL performance. This circle can be reversed by physical exercise to increase physical fitness. The goal of this research is to establish the effects of a trainings program on ADL performance, physical fitness and nocturnal cramps. Furthermore the characteristics from participants who benefit from the program will be investigated by the research. The study design is a randomized intervention study. Participants are elderly people, age 65 years and older, without cognitive impairment. Intervention: The intervention is a physical trainings program. The intensity is moderate, the frequency is daily and the total duration is 6 weeks. The control group will be provided with an education program. Main parameters are: physical fitness, nocturnal cramp severity and frequency.
Interventions
OTHERFitness exercise program
Exercise program, daily frequency, duration of 6 weeks.
Sponsors
University Medical Center Groningen
Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* For patients to be included in our study, they had to experience regular episodes of NLC and are in good mental health. * The participants had to agree to the study protocol and complete the program. * After eligibility was verified, written informed consent was obtained.
Exclusion criteria
* Older adults taking quinine or sleep medication and those with orthopedic problems or with severe medical problems and co morbidity, which can cause muscular spasms and/or cramps.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Physical fitness | six weeks | Strength, balance |
| ADL performance | six weeks | Performance based ADL test |
| Well being | six weeks | Questionnaires like SF-36 |
| Nocturnal cramps | Six weeks | Visual analogue scale (VAS) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency nocturnal cramp | Six weeks | Number of cramp attacks per day. |
Countries
Netherlands
Outcome results
None listed