Conclusions The current literature suggests the effectiveness of low-intensity exercise on improved physical and cognitive health for older adults .
It may be a desired intensity level in promoting health among older adults with better compliance , lower risk of injuries , and long-term sustainability
Background It is well known that physical exercise is important to promote physical and cognitive health in older population .
However , inconsistent research findings were shown regarding exercise intensity , particularly on whether low-intensity exercise ( 1.5 metabolic equivalent tasks ( METs ) to 3.0 METs ) can improve physical and cognitive health of older adults .
This systematic review aim ed to fill this research gap .
The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the effectiveness of low-intensity exercise interventions on physical and cognitive health of older adults .
Does an exercise and incontinence intervention save healthcare costs in a nursing home population?
OBJECTIVES To determine whether an intervention that combines low-intensity exercise and incontinence care offsets some of its costs by reducing the incidence of selected health conditions in nursing home residents . DESIGN R and omized , controlled trial with the incidence and costs of selected , acute conditions compared between a 6-month baseline and an 8-month intervention phase . SETTING Four nursing homes . PARTICIPANTS One hundred ninety incontinent , long-stay nursing home residents . INTERVENTION Low-intensity , functionally oriented exercise and incontinence care were provided every 2 hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for 5 days a week for 8 months . MEASUREMENTS Predefined acute conditions hypothesized to be related to physical inactivity , incontinence , or immobility were abstract ed from residents ' medical records by blinded observers during a 6-month baseline period and throughout the 8-month intervention . Conditions included those in the dermatological , genitourinary , gastrointestinal , respiratory and cardiovascular systems ; falls ; pain ; and psychiatric and nutritional disturbances . Costs were determined using Current Procedural Terminology Center and Medicare allowable cost reimbursement at a rate of 80 % . RESULTS The intervention group had significantly better functional outcomes than the control group ( strength , mobility endurance , urinary and fecal incontinence ) and a reduction of 10 % in the incidence of the acute conditions , which was not significant . There were no significant differences between groups in the cost of assessing and treating these acute conditions between baseline and intervention . CONCLUSION The intervention , which is consistent with federal and clinical practice guidelines , significantly improved functional outcomes but did not reduce the incidence and costs of selected acute health conditions . The cost of implementing these labor-intensive interventions for frail nursing home residents will have to be justified based on functional and quality -of-life outcomes and are unlikely to be offset by savings in medical care costs in this population
Conclusions The current literature suggests the effectiveness of low-intensity exercise on improved physical and cognitive health for older adults .
It may be a desired intensity level in promoting health among older adults with better compliance , lower risk of injuries , and long-term sustainability
Background It is well known that physical exercise is important to promote physical and cognitive health in older population .
However , inconsistent research findings were shown regarding exercise intensity , particularly on whether low-intensity exercise ( 1.5 metabolic equivalent tasks ( METs ) to 3.0 METs ) can improve physical and cognitive health of older adults .
This systematic review aim ed to fill this research gap .
The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the effectiveness of low-intensity exercise interventions on physical and cognitive health of older adults .