Aging
Conditions
Keywords
Dance, Exercise, Rehabilitation
Brief summary
GERAS DANcing for Cognition and Exercise (DANCE) is a therapeutic mind-body program for older adults (aged 60+) developed with rehabilitation and geriatric medicine expertise at the GERAS Centre for Aging Research at Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University. This study will examine if a virtual dance program is feasible for older adults and if dancing at home can benefit mind-body health, self-confidence, and mood.
Detailed description
GERAS DANCE fulfills an urgent need in our community to provide tailored evidence-based programming to help improve the health of older adults and was adapted for virtual implementation. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to measure (1) the feasibility of virtual GERAS DANCE in older adults to inform a large full-scale study, and (2) the potential effects of virtual GERAS DANCE on mobility, balance self-efficacy, cognition, frailty, and mood in older adults. This study will utilize a single-center, prospective, parallel-group randomized controlled feasibility approach. This RCT will involve 48 older adults using a person-centered and coordinated model of care embedded into existing community health partnerships. Participants will be randomized to receive 6-weeks of virtual GERAS DANCE or usual care. All participants randomized to usual care will receive the dance intervention after study completion for equal opportunity to participate in the virtual GERAS DANCE program. The progressive GERAS DANCE curricula will be delivered virtually for 1-hr class twice weekly by a certified GERAS DANCE instructor. GERAS DANCE curricula include gradual increases in cognitive load and are based on motor learning principles of the ABCs of movement Agility, Balance, and Coordination. The ABCs of movement is essential to quickly and efficiently change the body position with balance and coordination. Assessments of mobility, balance self-efficacy, cognition, frailty, and mood will occur at baseline and 6-weeks.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALVirtual GERAS DANCE
Dance is a form of aerobic exercise that involves multicomponent training with physical, cognitive, and social dimensions and may have synergetic benefits when delivered in combination. GERAS DANcing for Cognition and Exercise (DANCE), a community-based rehabilitation program for older adults with cognitive decline and/or mobility impairments, has been adapted for virtual delivery through videoconferencing systems. Participants will receive twice-weekly (one hour per session) virtual dance sessions for a total of 6 weeks.
Sponsors
McMaster University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 60 years of age; * Has access, or has a caregiver who has access to a device at home that can support a videoconferencing service * Able to ambulate independently with or without a walking aid; OR with caregiver supervision at home; * Family physician's signature on a medical clearance form to ensure they are cleared to exercise safely.
Exclusion criteria
* Unable to speak or understand English and has no caregiver for translation; * Significant cognitive impairment where they may have difficulty following two-step commands; * Unstable angina or unstable heart failure; * Travel plans that would result in missing greater than 20% of the trial's 6-week duration; * Currently attending a group exercise program.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Refusal Rate | [Time Frame: Baseline, 6-weeks] | target ≥ 70% |
| Recruitment Rate | [Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 10 months] | 5 patient/month |
| Retention Rate | [Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 10 months] | target ≥ 70% |
| Data Collection completion | [Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 10 months] | target ≥ 70% |
| Proportion of recruited patients | [Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 10 months] | target ≥ 70% |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Mobility | Baseline and 6 Weeks | Assessed by the 5x Sit-to-Stand (time to complete). Faster times to complete indicate better performance. |
| Change in Mood | Baseline and 6 Weeks | Assessed by Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) Questionnaire. Higher scores indicate greater depression \[range 0-120\]. |
| Change in Balance | Baseline and 6 Weeks | Balance confidence will be assessed using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABCs). Higher scores indicate greater balance confidence \[range 0-100\]. |
| Change in Falls Self-Efficacy | Baseline and 6 Weeks | Level of concern for falling will be assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale - International (FES-I). Higher scores indicate greater concern for falling \[range 1-4\]. |
| Change in Frailty | Baseline and 6 Weeks | Assessed by Fit-Frailty App. Higher scores indicate greater degree of frailty \[range 0-1\]. |
| Change in Cognition | Baseline and 6 Weeks | Assessed by Telephone-based Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Higher scores indicate better cognition \[range 0-30\]. |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed