It is currently unknown if reducing sitting time, an activity that is highly prevalent in frail older adults living in long term care (LTC) facilities, is associated with an improvement in physical capacity such as walking speed. Simple tasks such as walking speed is associated with important outcomes for residents in LTC such as autonomy and hospitalization. The investigators hypothesize that standing an additional 100 minutes per week for 5 months will result in a clinically meaningful improvement in walking speed (0.1m/sec) in LTC residents compared to residents receiving a sitting social activity.
LTC facilities from Moncton and Fredericton will be recruited, with half of the LTC facilities randomized as the intervention and half as the control group. The investigators are aiming to enrol half of the LTC in Fredericton and half in Moncton. A total of 88 residents (44 in the control group, 44 in the intervention group) will be enrolled in the program.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
97
Standing for an additional 100 minutes per week; 20 minutes Monday-Friday
Pine Grove Nursing Home
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Changes in Walking Speed
Measured by the 10m walking speed test
Time frame: Pre and post intervention testing
Change in Balance
Measured by a portable device (Wii Balance board), which has sensors that detects sway .
Time frame: Pre and post testing (following the 5 month intervention). Data was collected but investigators are still analyzing findings.
Change in Leg Strength
Using hand-held dynamometer to quantify leg strength through knee extension
Time frame: Pre-Post Testing (following the 5 month intervention)
Change Lower Limb Power
Using the 30second sit-stand test following senior fitness test protocol
Time frame: Pre-Post Testing (following the 5 month intervention)
Change in Anxiety Symptoms
The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (Scale 0-20). A low score means a better outcome.
Time frame: Pre-Post Testing (following the 5 month intervention)
Depression
Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (0-15 scale). Lower score is better outcome.
Time frame: Pre-Post Testing (following the 5 month intervention)
Loneliness
Loneliness was measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale (20-80). A low score indicates a better outcome
Time frame: Pre-Post Testing (following the 5 month intervention)
Fall Efficacy
Falls Efficacy Scale-International Questionnaire (16-64 scale). Low score indicates a better score
Time frame: Pre-Post Testing (following the 5 month intervention)
Rate of Falls
Falls, injuries due to falls and hospitalization will be collected at 3 timepoints
Time frame: The number of falls will be collected from three timeframes: 1. Between 6 months prior to and the start of program 2. the duration of the program (5 months) 3. From the end of the program to 6 months follow up. Data is still being analyzed at this time.
Metabolic Profile - Triglycerides
Capillary blood analyzed with a cardiochek device. Blood collected via a finger prick and analyzed with a cardiochek device. Note that Total Cholesterol, HDL, Triglycerides, LDL and Glucose were all measured using the cardiochek device.
Time frame: Pre-Post Testing (before and following the 5 month intervention).
Social Behaviours
Semi-structured interviews with residents (participants and non-participants), family members and staff will be administered at the end of the study
Time frame: Pre-Post Testing (following the 5-month intervention). Data has been collected, but is still being analyzed
Metabolic Profile - High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was analyzed using the CardioChek Professional Analyzer system (PTS Diagnostics, Whitestown, Indiana, USA). A finger prick was conducted using a single use lancet and approximately 60 µL of whole blood was collected for this test.
Time frame: Pre and post testing (before and after the 5-month intervention)
Metabolic Profile - Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein was assessed using a CardioChek Professional Analyzer system (PTS Diagnostics, Whitestown, Indiana, USA).
Time frame: Pre-Post intervention (before and after 5-month intervention)
Metabolic Profile - Blood Glucose
Fasted blood glucose was analyzed using a CardioChek Professional Analyzer system (PTS Diagnostics, Whitestown, Indiana, USA).
Time frame: Pre-Post Intervention (before and after 5-month intervention)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.