gms | German Medical Science

51. Kongress für Allgemeinmedizin und Familienmedizin

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allgemeinmedizin und Familienmedizin (DEGAM)

21.09. - 23.09.2017, Düsseldorf

Functional task exercise and physical therapy as prevention of functional decline in community dwelling older people

Meeting Abstract

  • J. Blom - Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Niederlande
  • P. Siemonsma - TNO Healthy Living, Leiden, Niederlande
  • H. Hofstetter - TNO Healthy Living, Leiden, Niederlande
  • A. van Hespen - TNO Healthy Living, Leiden, Niederlande
  • J. Gussekloo - Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Niederlande
  • Y. Drewes - Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Niederlande
  • N. van Meeteren - Maastricht University, Maastricht, Niederlande

51. Kongress für Allgemeinmedizin und Familienmedizin. Düsseldorf, 21.-23.09.2017. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2017. Doc17degam159

doi: 10.3205/17degam159, urn:nbn:de:0183-17degam1591

Published: September 5, 2017

© 2017 Blom et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.


Outline

Text

Background: A physically active lifestyle in older people contributes to the preservation of good health.

Question: What is the effect of physiotherapy on daily functioning among community dwelling older people with complex health problems identified with screening, vs care as usual. In addition, we compare functional task exercise (FTE), (problems prioritized by older people, trained in own home environment), vs usual preventive physical therapy (PPT).

Method: Participants: Community-dwelling persons 75+ years with daily activity limitations, in 83 general practices (n=155). Both intervention groups (FTE, n=76; PPT, n=79) received individual, 30 minute treatments. An observational group (OG) (n=228) did not get any experimental intervention offered. Measurements: Groningen Activities for Daily Living Restriction Scale (GARS).

Results: At baseline, 74 percent of the intervention trial group was female vs 79% in the observational group (p=0.761). Median ages were 83.6 and 84.8 respectively (p=0.560). The median baseline GARS-score for the OG was 41.0 (Interquartile Range (IQR): 35.0; 48.0) and 40.0 (IQR: 32.3; 46.0) for the intervention group. The mean change over time was 3.3 (2.5; 4.1) for the OG. Differences in change over time between the intervention trial and the OG were statistically significant, with mean difference in change of GARS score of -2.5 (95%CI: -4.3; -0.6) (p= .009). No statistically significant difference was observed between FTE and PPT: difference in change was 0.4 (95% CI: -3.5; 2.8, p = 0.795).

Discussion: An exercise intervention led by physiotherapists may slow down decline in self-reported daily functioning in older persons with daily activity limitations, identified by pro-active case finding.