Ulrike Morgenstern1, Kerstin Ketelhut2, Diana Rösler3. 1. Medizinpädagogik, SRH Fachhochschule Gera, Neue Straße 28-30, 07548, Gera, Deutschland. ulrike.morgenstern@srh-gesundheitshochschule.de. 2. Medizinpädagogik, SRH Fachhochschule Gera, Neue Straße 28-30, 07548, Gera, Deutschland. 3. Interdisziplinäre Frühförderung & Qualitätsmanagementbeauftragte, SRH Fachhochschule Gera, Neue Straße 28-30, Gera, 07548, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Dementia is characterized by reduced memory and concentration abilities leading to a decrease in activities of daily living. Various studies have shown that various forms of physical exercise have a positive therapeutic effect at an early stage of dementia. OBJECTIVE: In the present study the effects of an exercise-based Brain-Gym concept on the concentration and routine daily competences were evaluated in dementia patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During a 4-month intervention period specially trained nursing staff and healthcare students put this exercise program into practice. Using an intervention and control group design, the concentration abilities of the dementia patients were tested on a monthly base. Additionally, the routine daily competence of the patients was evaluated by the nursing staff. RESULTS: Even though no significant differences could be detected, the intervention group achieved higher scores in concentration abilities than the control group on all four testing dates. Furthermore, the routine daily competence was improved in the intervention group throughout the intervention period. CONCLUSION: This concept can be used for dementia patients. Due to the low requirements concerning coordination and condition Brain-Gym is suitable for the target group and can easily be implemented by caregivers; however, significant evidence of positive impacts on concentration and everyday life competence could not yet be found in this study.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Dementia is characterized by reduced memory and concentration abilities leading to a decrease in activities of daily living. Various studies have shown that various forms of physical exercise have a positive therapeutic effect at an early stage of dementia. OBJECTIVE: In the present study the effects of an exercise-based Brain-Gym concept on the concentration and routine daily competences were evaluated in dementiapatients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During a 4-month intervention period specially trained nursing staff and healthcare students put this exercise program into practice. Using an intervention and control group design, the concentration abilities of the dementiapatients were tested on a monthly base. Additionally, the routine daily competence of the patients was evaluated by the nursing staff. RESULTS: Even though no significant differences could be detected, the intervention group achieved higher scores in concentration abilities than the control group on all four testing dates. Furthermore, the routine daily competence was improved in the intervention group throughout the intervention period. CONCLUSION: This concept can be used for dementiapatients. Due to the low requirements concerning coordination and condition Brain-Gym is suitable for the target group and can easily be implemented by caregivers; however, significant evidence of positive impacts on concentration and everyday life competence could not yet be found in this study.
Entities:
Keywords:
Activation; Ambulatory care; Brain-Gym concept; Central nervous system; Movement
Authors: Johanna Geritz; Sara Maetzold; Maren Steffen; Andrea Pilotto; Marta F Corrà; Mariana Moscovich; Maria C Rizzetti; Barbara Borroni; Alessandro Padovani; Annekathrin Alpes; Corinna Bang; Igor Barcellos; Ralf Baron; Thorsten Bartsch; Jos S Becktepe; Daniela Berg; Lu M Bergeest; Philipp Bergmann; Raquel Bouça-Machado; Michael Drey; Morad Elshehabi; Susan Farahmandi; Joaquim J Ferreira; Andre Franke; Anja Friederich; Corinna Geisler; Philipp Hüllemann; Janne Gierthmühlen; Oliver Granert; Sebastian Heinzel; Maren K Heller; Markus A Hobert; Marc Hofmann; Björn Jemlich; Laura Kerkmann; Stephanie Knüpfer; Katharina Krause; Maximilian Kress; Sonja Krupp; Jennifer Kudelka; Gregor Kuhlenbäumer; Roland Kurth; Frank Leypoldt; Corina Maetzler; Luis F Maia; Andreas Moewius; Patricia Neumann; Katharina Niemann; Christian T Ortlieb; Steffen Paschen; Minh H Pham; Thomas Puehler; Franziska Radloff; Christian Riedel; Marten Rogalski; Simone Sablowsky; Elena M Schanz; Linda Schebesta; Andreas Schicketmüller; Simone Studt; Martina Thieves; Lars Tönges; Sebastian Ullrich; Peter P Urban; Nuno Vila-Chã; Anna Wiegard; Elke Warmerdam; Tobias Warnecke; Michael Weiss; Julius Welzel; Clint Hansen; Walter Maetzler Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2020-02-06 Impact factor: 3.921