Abstract
Objectives
Despite mobility impairments, many residents have physical, cognitive, and psychosocial
resources that should be promoted. The aim was to summarize the current evidence on
chair-based exercise (CBE) interventions for nursing home residents.
Design
Systematic review registered with Prospero (registration number: CRD42018078196).
Setting and Participants
Nursing home residents in long-term care.
Methods
Five electronic databases were searched (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Central,
and PsycINFO) from inception until July 2020. Title, abstract, and full-text screening
as well as quality assessment with the Downs and Black checklist was done by 2 independent
reviewers. Studies were eligible if they (1) were conducted in nursing home residents,
(2) included participants with a mean age of 65 years, (3) had at least 1 treatment
arm with seated exercises only, (4) included active or inactive controls, (5) measured
outcomes related to physical and/or cognitive functioning and/or well-being, and (6)
controlled studies or single-group pre-post design. Because of a heterogeneity in
characteristics of included studies, we refrained from conducting a meta-analysis.
Results
Ten studies met the inclusion criteria (n = 511, mean age 79 ± 7 years, 65% female).
Studies differed in sample size (12-114) as well as in training type (multicomponent,
Yoga/Qigong/breathing exercise, range of motion) and dose (frequency 2 sessions/week
to daily, intensity low to moderate, time 20-60 minutes/session, 6 weeks to 6 months).
Overall, CBE appears to be feasible and safe. Studies found task-specific improvements
in physical and cognitive functions and enhanced well-being. Three studies demonstrated
improved lower body performance following a multicomponent CBE program in mobile residents.
Three studies only including residents unable to walk reported improved physical functions,
indicating that immobile residents benefit from CBE programs. There was a lack of
separating mobile and immobile residents in analyses.
Conclusions and Implications
The results indicate that CBE interventions may improve physical and cognitive functions
as well as well-being in nursing home residents. Task-specific multicomponent CBE
appears to be best for improving different domains of physical and cognitive functioning.
More high-quality trials are needed.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 17, 2020
Footnotes
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Identification
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© 2020 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
