Extrait

Background and study aims The British Heart Foundation recommends physical activity in frail older people. Unfortunately, older patients in hospital spend the majority of their time in a sedentary state. Physical inactivity in hospital leads to poorer health outcomes. Encouraging physical activity in hospital is challenging due to a number of reasons ranging from a limited number of therapists (who usually deliver the exercise sessions), limited therapy time, older patients unable to recall exercises prescribed, lack of patient engagement and motivation; and concern of causing falls. Therefore, chair based pedal exercises offer a simple method of improving physical activity. Its repetitive nature is much easier to follow and this helps those with memory concerns. Resistance training as part of pedal exercise may improve muscle strength. All this should result in improved lower limb function. An activity that involves sitting down is more likely to reassure both patients and staff regarding the risk of falls and resulting injury. Chair based pedal exercise in addition to usual ward care may improve healthcare outcomes. We propose a study to evaluate how feasible it is to deliver regular chair based pedal exercises (the intervention) on older people (≥65 years old) admitted to an acute medical ward. Who can participate? People aged at least 65 admitted to an acute geriatric ward that are able to co-operate and sit in a chair on their own for at least 10 minutes What does the study involve? Participants are randomly allocated into one of two groups. Those in group 1 receive standard care, that is the care currently given on the ward. Those in group 2 receive the intervention. This includes regular chair based pedal exercises for 5 minutes 3 times a day until they leave hospital or after 7 days, whichever comes. This is in addition to the standard care delivered. Participants are asked to pedal continuously with no pre-specified targets set, e.g. rpm or level of resistance. This exercise is initially supervised by a member of the research team and then supervised by members of the ward team. This is to replicate ‘real life’ hospital setting where exercises in hospital are initiated and observed by a therapist and the patients encouraged to continue with the exercises with support by the ward team. Participants in both groups have access to the ward physiotherapist and an inpatient therapy plan as part of their standard care. The participants also have similar access to medical, nursing and other allied healthcare staff. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? Participants offered pedal exercises will be able to maintain their fitness whilst in hospital. Participating in the study will help to provide the research team with information to improve physical activity and mobility in hospital. There are no known side effects. Tiredness due to the pedal exercise is possible. Hence, if a participant suffers with any heart or lung problems, the research team would urge the participant to pace him or herself, to stop if any discomfort arises and inform the healthcare and research team. Participants may also experience mild discomfort from wearing the activity monitor with its associated dressing. If this was the case the monitor could be repositioned. Where is the study run from? Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for? August 2015 to April 2016 Who is the main contact? Dr Terence Ong

Critère d'inclusion

• Muscle strength of older people admitted to hospital

Liens

• ictrp
• isrctn