A randomized controlled trial of an activity specific exercise program for individuals with Alzheimer disease in long-term care settings.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an activity specific exercise program could improve ability to perform basic mobility activities in long-term care residents with Alzheimer disease (AD). DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, single-blinded clinical trial. SETTING: Residents of 7 long-term care facilities. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-two long-term care residents with mild to severe AD. INTERVENTION An activity specific exercise program was compared to a walking program and to an attention control. MEASUREMENTS Ability to perform bed mobility and transfers was assessed using the subscales of the Acute Care Index of Function; functional mobility was measured using the 6-Minute Walk test. RESULTS: Subjects receiving the activity specific exercise program improved in ability to perform transfers, whereas subjects in the other 2 groups declined.