Motor Control-based Group Exercise: Can It be Delivered as Effectively by Lay Leaders?

PURPOSE: On the Move (OTM), a motor control-based group exercise program for community-dwelling older adults, has produced greater gains in mobility than a standard group exercise program when delivered by research leaders. The purposes of this study were:1) to examine the effectiveness of OTM versus a standard program when delivered by lay leaders and 2) to compare the outcomes of OTM when delivered by research versus lay leaders. METHODS: Community-dwelling, medically stable older adults who could walk household distances participated. OTM consisted of warm-up, timing and coordination, strengthening, and stretching exercises. The seated standard program consisted of warm-up, aerobic, strengthening and stretching exercises. The primary outcome(s) of function and disability was the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI), and for walking ability were the Six Minute Walk Test and gait speed. RESULTS: 126 participants (mean age = 80.7±7.8 years, gait speed = 0.91 m/s) were randomized to OTM (n=49) or standard (n=77) programs. When taught by lay leaders, there were no significant between-intervention group differences in any of the outcomes (p>0.10). Comparing OTM outcomes between leaders, there was a statistical but not clinically meaningful difference in LLFDI disability (1.87±0.89, p=0.04) when taught by research versus lay leader, and moderate differences (p=0.06) in LLFDI overall function (1.89±1.02) and gait speed (0.05±0.03). Qualitative interview responses suggest that instructor-related concerns may have impacted program outcomes. CONCLUSION: When delivered by lay leaders OTM was not more effective than a standard program for improving function, disability, and mobility in older adults. Health promotion programs designed to improve mobility in community-dwelling older adults and based on a motor control theoretical background, may be best taught by rehabilitation professionals.

The Test-Retest Reliability of Indirect Calorimetry Measures of Energy Expenditure During Overground Walking in Older Adults With Mobility Limitations.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relative and absolute reliability of metabolic measures of energy expenditure and gait speed during overground walking in older adults with mobility limitations. Thirty-three (mean age [SD] = 76.4 [6.6] years; 66% female) older adults with slow gait participated. Measures of energy expenditure and gait speed were recorded during two 6-min bouts of overground walking (1 week apart) at a self-selected "usual" walking pace. The relative reliability for all variables was excellent: ICC = .81-.91. Mean differences for five of the six outcome variables was less than or equal to the respected SEM, while all six mean differences fell below the calculated MDC95. Clinicians and researchers can be confident that metabolic measures of energy expenditure and gait speed in older adults with slow walking speeds can be reliably assessed during overground walking, providing an alternative to traditional treadmill assessments.