Fall Prevention, Physical Activity
Conditions
Brief summary
This feasibility pilot is part of the project LiFE-is-LiFE (2017-2020). It is based on the Lifestyle-Integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) program by Clemson et al., which has proven effective in improving strength, balance, and physical activity while simultaneously reducing falls in older people via incorporating exercises in recurring daily tasks. However, implementing the original LiFE program includes high financial requirements and human resources. Therefore, LiFE-is-LiFE investigates whether implementing LiFE in groups (gLiFE) is not inferior to the original, individually delivered LiFE in terms of reducing falls per physical activity. In this pilot study, we evaluate our conception of gLiFE for large-scale use in the subsequent, larger LiFE-is-LiFE trial.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALgroup lifestyle-integrated functional exercise
Manualized teaching of balance and strength principles and integration of exercises and physical activity into daily routine during 7 sessions in a group of 8 to 10 participants with 2 trainers. The pilot intervention group will undergo the same strength and balance exercises and learn about the same physical activity enhancement strategies as described in the LiFE programme by Clemson et al. (BMJ 2012;345:e4547). However, instead of 7 home visits, gLiFE participants will attend seven group sessions (1 session/week). In these, LiFE contents are adapted to the group setting and enhanced by health psychological and behaviour change strategies fitting to the social structure and modalities of a group.
Sponsors
Robert Bosch Gesellschaft für Medizinische Forschung mbH (RBMF)
University of Ulm
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Heidelberg University
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
70 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Community-dwelling * Aged 70+
Exclusion criteria
* Cognitive impairment * Neurological condition which severely influences gait and mobility * Severe visual impairment * Inability to ambulate independently * Significant lung disease or chronic heart failure or any other unstable or terminal illness that would preclude the planned exercises
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Participants' views on the gLiFE program | at the end of the intervention period (i.e., week 7) | Participants' views on: 1. planning and engaging in gLiFE activities 2. the gLiFE manual 3. support from the trainers 4. their ideas for improving the program 5. the group format |
| Adherence of the participants to LiFE activities | Change from the first of 7 intervention sessions (i.e., at week 1) at the end of the intervention period (i.e., week 7) | Measured using the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS) |
| Evaluation of the intervention and its components | at the end of the intervention period (i.e., week 7) | Rating of helpfulness (5-point Likert scale), safety (5-point Likert scale), level of difficulty (5-point Likert scale), and adaptability (5-point Likert scale) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Functional performance | Change from baseline (i.e., before the first session) at the end of the intervention period (i.e., week 7) | Timed up-and-go test (measured in seconds; shorter time represents better performance) |
| Motor performance (balance) | Change from baseline (i.e., before the first session) at the end of the intervention period (i.e., week 7) | 8 Level balance scale (measured in accomplished levels; higher level represents better performance) |
| Motor performance (strength) | Change from baseline (i.e., before the first session) at the end of the intervention period (i.e., week 7) | 5-chair rise (measured in seconds; shorter time represents better performance) |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed