Effects of exercise referral schemes enhanced with behavioural self-management strategies on functional capacity and self-reported disability in community-dwelling older adults. Secondary results from the SITLESS multi-country, three-armed randomized controlled trial

SITLESS Group

Research output: Indexed journal article Articlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exercise referral schemes (ERS) are an effective strategy for increasing physical activity (PA) in older adults. Behavioural self-management strategies (SMS) may augment the maintenance of PA and associated benefits in this population, resulting in preservation of the functional capacity and prevention of disability over the long-term. AIM: The primary aim was to investigate the long-term (22-months) effects of ERS enhanced with SMS on functional capacity assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) compared to ERS (primary comparison) and a control condition (CTRL).Secondarily, between-group effects after 4 and 16 months on the SPPB and self-reported disability outcomes were investigated. METHODS: 1360 physically inactive community-dwelling older adults ≥65 years from four European countries were randomized into (i) 16 weeks ERS enhanced with SMS (ERS-SMS), (ii) ERS alone and (iii) CTRL. In addition to SPPB, self-reported function and disability were assessed by the short-form late life function and disability index and with a six-item activity of daily living questionnaire. RESULTS: No long-term effects were found for the SPPB-score in ERS-SMS vs ERS (0.21 point, 95% CI [-0.04, 0.46]). Significant group × time effects were observed for the SPPB-score after 4 months in favour of ERS-SMS over CTRL (0.51 point, 95% CI [0.29, 0.73]) and ERS (0.46 point, 95% CI [0.24, 0.68]). CONCLUSION: The study did demonstrate differences, in favour of ERS + SMS, but on SPPB these were small, and not sustained over time. The additional effect of SMS was inconsistent and uncertain.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAge and ageing
Volume53
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2024

Keywords

  • aged
  • disability
  • exercise
  • older people
  • physical function
  • resistance training

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of exercise referral schemes enhanced with behavioural self-management strategies on functional capacity and self-reported disability in community-dwelling older adults. Secondary results from the SITLESS multi-country, three-armed randomized controlled trial'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this