[Quality of life after a social-physical activity community intervention in elderly people with social risk. Clinical trial]. / Calidad de vida tras una intervención comunitaria sociomotriz en mayores con riesgo social. Ensayo clínico.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a social-physical activity program to improve the health-related quality of life of patients over 65years old with social risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Community; primary care and public schools. SUBJECTS: patients over 65years old with social risk, who went to the health center during the study period and met the inclusion criteria, n=102. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomized into two groups. The intervention group conducted two weekly sessions of 1hour of physical exercise, for 4months; monthly sessions on healthy habits and three days of social activities. The control group received the usual advice. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire; previously and at the end of the program. RESULTS: The study was completed by 80 subjects (mean age 71.5±5 years; 91.3% women). Baseline, there were no significant differences between groups, and their standardized physical and mental summary components of the SF-36 were below the population reference values (P<.01). After the program, the intervention group improved significantly, compared to the control group, in the 8 scales of the SF-36 and in the summary components, with a greater increase of 4points (P<.01) in the physical component, and 10 points in the mental component (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The community program of social-physical activity intervention improves the health-related quality of life in older people at social risk.

[Functional physical condition after a multi-component community intervention of active aging: Pragmatic clinical trial]. / Condición física funcional tras una intervención comunitaria multicomponente de envejecimiento activo. Ensayo clínico pragmático.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to assess the effectiveness of a multicomponent program of active aging in the improvement of the functional physical condition of patients older than 65years old with social risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pragmatic clinical trial non-blinded. SETTING: Community activity; primary care and public education center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients older than 65years and diagnosed with social risk. The patients who attended at the health center and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected consecutively (n=102). INTERVENTIONS: The patients were randomized into the intervention group or to the control group. The intervention included two weekly sessions of 1h of exercise during 4months, monthly health education sessions, and three days of social activities. The control group received the regular tips. The physical conditions were evaluated before and at the end the study. RESULTS: Eighty of the patients completed the study. Their middle age was 71.5±5 years old, and 91.3% of them were women. There was no significant differences between both groups. After the intervention, all the test for physical qualities improved in the intervention group; in the 6-minutes walk test the patients improved their mark in a 98% from the baseline marks, with an average increase of 65±35m. Flexibility improved in the 60% of the patients (95%CI: 50-70); strength increased an 84% (95%CI: 76-92), and dynamic balance increased a 79% (95%CI: 70-88). In control group improve some test marks but it had no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The socio-motor intervention program coordinated between health services and educational centers improves the functional physical condition of the elderly with social risk.

[Effectiveness of a social-physical activity intervention program in an elderly social risk population]. / Efectividad de un programa de intervención socio-motriz en población mayor con riesgo social.

INTRODUCTION: The objective is to assess the effectiveness of a social-physical activity intervention program in the improvement of the health-related quality of life and functional physical condition of patients older than 65 years at social risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Quasi-experimental intervention (pretest-posttest). SETTING: Community activity; primary care and public education centres. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-nine patients older than 65 years, seen at the health centre, with a diagnosis of social risk. The program included monthly health education sessions and two weekly sessions of one hour of exercise for 6 months. Measurements were taken before and at the end of the study. Outcome variables were: quality of life valued using the SF36 questionnaire and functional fitness through Senior Fitness Battery Test. RESULTS: After intervention improved all tests for the physical qualities improved after the intervention; in the 6-minutes walk all subjects improved from baseline, with an average increase of 62 +/- 36 metres (95% CI: 48-76). The SF-36 questionnaire improved 8 scales and mental summary component with a further increase of 6 points (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Social-physical activity intervention program improved the health-related quality of life related and functional physical condition in older people at social risk. This paper provides evidence in favour of the implementation of social-physical community activities, coordinated between health services and education centres, aimed at the elderly at risk.