Michael Schwenk1,2, Ronny Bergquist3, Elisabeth Boulton4,5, Jeanine M Van Ancum6, Corinna Nerz7, Michaela Weber8, Carolin Barz7, Nini H Jonkman6, Kristin Taraldsen3, Jorunn L Helbostad3, Beatrix Vereijken3, Mirjam Pijnappels6, Andrea B Maier6,9, Wei Zhang10, Clemens Becker7, Chris Todd4,11,5, Lindy Clemson12, Helen Hawley-Hague4,5. 1. Department of Clinical Gerontology and Geriatric Rehabilitation, Robert Bosch Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany, schwenk@nar.uni-heidelberg.de. 2. Network Aging Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany, schwenk@nar.uni-heidelberg.de. 3. Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. 4. School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. 5. Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom. 6. Department of Human Movement Sciences, @AgeAmsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 7. Department of Clinical Gerontology and Geriatric Rehabilitation, Robert Bosch Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany. 8. Network Aging Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany. 9. Department of Medicine and Aged Care, @AgeMelbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 10. Laboratory of Movement Analysis and Measurement, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. 11. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom. 12. Faculty of Health Sciences, and Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) program is an intervention integrating balance and strength activities into daily life, effective at reducing falls in at-risk people ≥70 years. There is potential for LiFE to be adapted to young seniors in order to prevent age-related functional decline. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to (1) develop an intervention by adapting Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (aLiFE) to be more challenging and suitable for preventing functional decline in young seniors in their 60s and (2) perform an initial feasibility evaluation of the program. Pre-post changes in balance, mobility, and physical activity (PA) were also explored. METHODS: Based on a conceptual framework, a multidisciplinary expert group developed an initial aLiFE version, including activities for improving strength, neuromotor performances, and PA. Proof-of-concept was evaluated in a 4-week pre-post intervention study measuring (1) feasibility including adherence, frequency of practice, adverse events, acceptability (i.e., perceived helpfulness, adaptability, level of difficulty of single activities), and safety, and (2) changes in balance/mobility (Community Balance and Mobility Scale) and PA (1 week activity monitoring). The program was refined based on the study results. RESULTS: To test the initial aLiFE version, 31 young seniors were enrolled and 30 completed the study (mean age 66.4 ± 2.7 years, 60% women). Of a maximum possible 16 activities, participants implemented on average 12.1 ± 1.8 activities during the intervention, corresponding to mean adherence of 76%. Implemented activities were practiced 3.6-6.1 days/week and 1.8-7.8 times/day, depending on the activity type. One noninjurious fall occurred during practice, although the participant continued the intervention. The majority found the activities helpful, adaptable to individual lifestyle, appropriately difficult, and safe. CMBS score increased with medium effect size (d = 0.72, p = 0.001). Increase in daily walking time (d = 0.36) and decrease in sedentary time (d = -0.10) were nonsignificant. Refinements included further increasing the task challenge of some strength activities and defining the most preferred activities in the trainer's manual to facilitate uptake of the program. CONCLUSION:aLiFE has the potential to engage young seniors in regular lifestyle-integrated activities. Effectiveness needs to be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) program is an intervention integrating balance and strength activities into daily life, effective at reducing falls in at-risk people ≥70 years. There is potential for LiFE to be adapted to young seniors in order to prevent age-related functional decline. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to (1) develop an intervention by adapting Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (aLiFE) to be more challenging and suitable for preventing functional decline in young seniors in their 60s and (2) perform an initial feasibility evaluation of the program. Pre-post changes in balance, mobility, and physical activity (PA) were also explored. METHODS: Based on a conceptual framework, a multidisciplinary expert group developed an initial aLiFE version, including activities for improving strength, neuromotor performances, and PA. Proof-of-concept was evaluated in a 4-week pre-post intervention study measuring (1) feasibility including adherence, frequency of practice, adverse events, acceptability (i.e., perceived helpfulness, adaptability, level of difficulty of single activities), and safety, and (2) changes in balance/mobility (Community Balance and Mobility Scale) and PA (1 week activity monitoring). The program was refined based on the study results. RESULTS: To test the initial aLiFE version, 31 young seniors were enrolled and 30 completed the study (mean age 66.4 ± 2.7 years, 60% women). Of a maximum possible 16 activities, participants implemented on average 12.1 ± 1.8 activities during the intervention, corresponding to mean adherence of 76%. Implemented activities were practiced 3.6-6.1 days/week and 1.8-7.8 times/day, depending on the activity type. One noninjurious fall occurred during practice, although the participant continued the intervention. The majority found the activities helpful, adaptable to individual lifestyle, appropriately difficult, and safe. CMBS score increased with medium effect size (d = 0.72, p = 0.001). Increase in daily walking time (d = 0.36) and decrease in sedentary time (d = -0.10) were nonsignificant. Refinements included further increasing the task challenge of some strength activities and defining the most preferred activities in the trainer's manual to facilitate uptake of the program. CONCLUSION: aLiFE has the potential to engage young seniors in regular lifestyle-integrated activities. Effectiveness needs to be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.
Authors: Elisabeth Boulton; Michaela Weber; Helen Hawley-Hague; Ronny Bergquist; Jeanine Van Ancum; Nini H Jonkman; Kristin Taraldsen; Jorunn L Helbostad; Andrea B Maier; Clemens Becker; Chris Todd; Lindy Clemson; Michael Schwenk Journal: Gerontology Date: 2019-06-19 Impact factor: 5.140
Authors: Franziska Kramer; Sarah Labudek; Carl-Philipp Jansen; Corinna Nerz; Lena Fleig; Lindy Clemson; Clemens Becker; Michael Schwenk Journal: Pilot Feasibility Stud Date: 2020-01-22
Authors: Nida Mugler; Hansjörg Baurecht; Kevin Lam; Michael Leitzmann; Carmen Jochem Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-08-17 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: A Stefanie Mikolaizak; Kristin Taraldsen; Elisabeth Boulton; Katharina Gordt; Andrea Britta Maier; Sabato Mellone; Helen Hawley-Hague; Kamiar Aminian; Lorenzo Chiari; Anisoara Paraschiv-Ionescu; Mirjam Pijnappels; Chris Todd; Beatrix Vereijken; Jorunn L Helbostad; Clemens Becker Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-10-05 Impact factor: 3.006