Benefits of home-based rocking-chair exercise for physical performance in community-dwelling elderly women: a randomized controlled trial
Kristiina Niemelä1,2, Ilkka Väänänen3, Raija Leinonen4 and Pia Laukkanen5
1Kauniala Hospital and Rehabilitation Center for War Veterans, Kauniainen, 2University of Kuopio, Department of Biomedical Science, 3Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Innovation Centre, Lahti, 4GeroCenter Foundation for Research and Development, Jyväskylä, 5Center for Care and Rehabilitation for War Veterans, Jyväskylä, Finland

Abstract

Background and aims: Home-based exercise is a viable alternative for older adults with difficulties in exercise opportunities outside the home. The aim of this study was to investigate the benefits of home-based rocking-chair training, and its effects on the physical performance of elderly women. Methods: Community- dwelling women (n=51) aged 73-87 years were randomly assigned to the rocking-chair group (RCG, n=26) or control group (CG, n=25) by drawing lots. Baseline and outcome measurements were hand grip strength, maximal isometric knee extension, maximal walking speed over 10 meters, rising from a chair five times, and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The RCG carried out a six-week rocking-chair training program at home, involving ten sessions per week, twice a day for 15 minutes per session, and ten different movements. The CG continued their usual daily lives. After three months, the RCG responded to a mail questionnaire. Results: After the intervention, the RCG improved and the CG declined. The data showed significant interactions of group by time in the BBS score (p=0.001), maximal knee extension strength (p=0.006) and maximal walking speed (p=0.046), which indicates that the change between groups during the follow-up period was significant. Adherence to the training protocol was high (96%). After three months, the exercise program had become a regular home exercise habit for 88.5% of the subjects. Conclusions: Results indicate that home-based elderly women benefit from this easily implemented rocking-chair exercise program. The subjects became motivated to participate in training and continued the exercises. This is a promising alternative exercise method for maintaining physical activity and leads to improvements in physical performance. (Aging Clin Exp Res 2011; 23: 279-287) ©2011, Editrice Kurtis

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