Home-Based Leg Strengthening for Older Adults Initiated through Private Practice

• Published in: Preventive medicine 1999-02, Vol.28 (2), p.105-110
• Main Authors: McCool, James F., Schneider, Joanne Kraenzle
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chronic Disease - therapy; elderly; Exercise Therapy - methods; Exercise Therapy - organization & administration; Feasibility Studies; Female; Frail Elderly; Gait - physiology; Health Services for the Aged - organization & administration; home-based; Humans; Leg; leg strength; Male; Muscle Weakness - rehabilitation; physician-prescribed; Treatment Outcome; Weight Lifting - physiology
• ISSN: 0091-7435; 1096-0260
• DOI: 10.1006/pmed.1998.0406

Background.Leg strength correlates with functional ability in the frail elderly, many of whom can be reached through a private practice setting. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of physician-prescribed, home-based, clinic-monitored, high-intensity leg-strengthening treatment among elderly patients with a variety of medical problems. Methods.Twenty-two elderly patients with a variety of chronic medical conditions were invited to participate during regularly scheduled office visits if they had difficulty rising from a chair and an unsteady, cautious gait (age 85.1 ± 5.7, 14 female). Physical therapists (PT) instructed patients to lift ankle weights at home, three times per week. Patients visited PT five times over a 12-week period. Weights were increased at each visit. Results.Patients' one-repetition maximum increased (right leg 13 to 21 lb,P= 0.00; left leg 15 to 22 lb,P=0.00). Patients also improved in habitual (18 to 12 s,P= 0.01) and tandem (38 to 26 s,P= 0.00) 20-foot walking times and sit-to-stand time (5 to 3 s,P= 0.01). Conclusion.The primary care physician can initiate a home-based leg-strengthening program that is practical for and well tolerated by the frail elderly.