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Table 2 Main characteristics of the selected studies

From: Impact of physical activity on activity of daily living in moderate to severe dementia: a critical review

Authors

Design

Population

Program reference

Intervention: experimental group

Intervention: control group

Participants’ rate

Dropout

Kwak et al. [26]

Randomized controlled trial

30 women with senile dementia living in the community. Experimental group: age 79.7 (6.6) years, MMSE 14.5 (5.3). Control group: age 82.3 (7.9) years, MMSE 13.4. (7.0)

No information

Strengthening exercise; balance; stretching. Intensity: light to moderate intensity exercise (i.e., walking). Exercise intensity was gradually increased from 30% to 60% of expected maximal oxygen consumption

No information

No information

0/30

Rolland et al. [25]

Multicenter, randomized controlled trial

134 nursing home residents. Experimental group: age 82.8 (7.8) years, MMSE 9.7 (6.8). Control group: age 83.1 (7.0) years, MMSE 7.9 (6.4)

Experience [5] and based on two other references [6, 7]

Aerobic, strength (lower extremity), balance training, fast walking, flexibility, program accompanied by music. Intensity: at the beginning light intensity and was gradually increased over the first month. Measure of compliance

Control group: routine medical care. No restriction in nursing, physiotherapy, medical care, advice, or any other healthcare support

134/429

11/67 (EG)

13/67 (CG)

Steinberg et al. [23]

Randomized controlled trial stratified for gender and age over 75

27 community dwelling persons with Alzheimer disease. Experimental group: age 74 (8.1) years, MMSE 15.5 (5.4). Control group: age 76.5 (3.9) years, MMSE 20.1 (5.1)

Graduate program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Aerobic fitness: brisk walking, strength training, balance and flexibility training, intensity: compliance measure

Home visit, with recommendations

27/30

0/27

Stevens and Killeen [24]

Randomized controlled trial

120 nursing home residents from 6 different nursing homes. Experimental group: age 79 years. Control group 1: age 81 years. Control group 2: 80.5 years, MMSE scores >9 <23a

Program was designed based on knowledge concerning physiological adaptation in older frail people [11] and in consultation with the School of Sport and Exercise Science, Southern Cross University, Lismore

Aerobic by moving joint and large muscle groups. Program accompanied by music. Intensity: gentle aerobic exertion

Control group 1: no intervention. Control group 2: social visits equivalent in duration and frequency as those undertaking the exercise program in the experimental group

No information

45/120

Francese et al. [27]

Experimental design

12 severely demented residents of a Medicare nursing facilityb

Program was based on previous interventions for frail or impaired residents

Activities such as catching, throwing, and kicking balls, leg weight exercises, parachute reaches, program accompanied by music, intensity: gentle aerobic exertion

Sing-along video

12/30

0/6 (EG)

1/6 (CG)

  1. Mean age (in years) and mean Mini-Mental State Examination scores and the corresponding standard deviation are reported for the experimental and the control group. Kwak et al. [26], Steinberg et al. [23] (data not available), and Stevens and Killeen [24] reported a significant improvement of ADL scores. Littbrand et al. [28] and Rolland et al. [25] showed significant delay of ADL deterioration, only after 12 months of program duration. The intermediate results at 6 months were not significant. Post-treatment ADL scores of the control group of Stevens and Killeen’s study [24] (data not available) decreased significantly compared to baseline assessment. ADL scores of both groups deteriorated significantly in the study of Rolland et al. [25] compared to baseline assessment
  2. EG experimental group, CG control group
  3. aIndication of SD of mean age as well as mean MMSE scores and the corresponding SD for each group is missing
  4. bInformation related to age and MMSE scores is missing
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European Review of Aging and Physical Activity

ISSN: 1861-6909

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