Institutionalized elderly rehabilitation – effects on physical fitness and quality of life

Physical activity is important for healthy ageing and may help to maintain good function in older age. Institutionalization is often due to functional decline and institutions frequently do not provide activities to maintain or regain functionality. Exercise therapy is an important component of rehabilitation programs for elderly and helps reduce pain, improve joint stability, functional ability, muscle strength and endurance, and aerobic capacity; preventing bone loss and fractures, and improving or maintaining quality of life. This study aims to investigate if a physical exercise program improves self-perception of health status, physical fitness, muscle strength and body composition in a group of institutionalized elderly. A quasi-experimental study was conducted using the Portuguese version of the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36v2), the Rikli Jones Senior Fitness Test, hand dynamometry and bioelectrical impedance before and after a physical exercise program. RESULTS: A total of 20 elderly aged 76,1±8,7 years with 18,3±13,3 months of institutionalization, participated in a two-month of physical exercise program. Results show that scores of SF-36v2 after the program had significantly increased in physical and mental components. They also increase significantly in scales such as physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, general health and mental health. Physical fitness results show that all components improve after the intervention. Noteworthy are aerobic endurance, lower flexibility, superior flexibility and agility, speed and dynamic balance all with statistical significance. An increase in muscle mass and a decrease in body fat, metabolic age, visceral fat and body water was observed, but without statistical significance. had no changes. Probably, the time between the two assessment moments (two months) was not enough so that they could register significant changes in bone mass and hand dynamometry. CONCLUSION: This work reveals that physical fitness and quality of life of the institutionalized elderly are positively influenced by physical activity, and participation in exercise programs can reduce functional decline. Physical exercise programs can contribute to improve physical status and self-perception of well-being leading to autonomy and confidence in performing daily living activities. In institutionalized elderly population this is a very important step towards independent life