Gait improves after 12 weeks of intensive resistance and functional training in people with mild to moderate dementia [commentary]

摘要

Question: Does an intensive progressive resistance and functionalexercise program improve gait characteristics in people with dementia? Design: Randomised, controlled trial with concealed allocation andblinding of participants and assessors. Setting: A geriatric hospital andoutpatient nursing care service in Germany. Participants: Inclusioncriteria were: adults aged at least 65 years with a confirmed dementiadiagnosis, cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination score17 to 26), and able to walk 10 m or more without a walking aid. A keyexclusion criterion was living more than 15 km from the study centre.Randomisation allocated 26 people to the exercise intervention and35 people to the control group. Interventions: The exercise groupparticipated in two 2-hour sessions each week for 12 weeks. A qualifiedinstructor supervised the exercise sessions, which comprised resistance and functional training. Resistance training targeted functionallyrelevant muscle groups at an intensity of 70 to 80% of one repetitionmaximum. Functional training focused on tasks like sit to stand andwalking, with progression by altering speed, amplitude or accuracy ofperformance.