Pole Walking Intervention in Retirement Communities

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
This patient-oriented study aims to co-design and pilot a pole walking intervention with residents and staff of the participating independent living/retirement communities. The proposed pilot will answer the following principal question: Is pole walking intervention feasible in the independent living/retirement communities? We will also assess if pole walking intervention will be associated with improved physical activity, function, mobility and quality of life. The final format of the intervention will be designed with resident- and staff-advisors. We anticipate that the pole walking sessions will be held outdoors, 2-3 times a week, for 20-60 min/session, over 12 weeks.

Detailed Description
-----------------
Pole walking provides an attractive form of exercise therapy for older adults. It is a simple, well-tolerated and effective means to improve overall functional fitness in older adults. Pole walking has improved upper and lower body muscle strength, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility in community dwelling older adults. It has been positively associated with balance, functional mobility, muscle strength, and aerobic exercise capacity in older adults. Pole walking is considered to offer a safe format for walking as poles provide support and help with balance and thus, contribute to confidence in being active. However, there has not yet been a study assessing the feasibility of pole walking intervention in older adults living in independent living/retirement communities. This study is a patient-oriented pilot intervention. Our target is to include 50 independent living/retirement community's residents. Pole walking exercises are based on ongoing, patient-oriented Nordic Walking intervention, tailored for participants and progressive in nature. Training sessions will be led by trained peer/staff/student-instructors. Training sessions will be held outdoors, 2-3 times a week, for 20-60 min/session, over 12 weeks.

Official Title
-----------------
Pole Walking Intervention Within Independent Living/Retirement Communities: Feasibility and Pilot

Conditions
-----------------
Fall Injury, Osteoporotic Fractures

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Other: Pole Walking


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Being an ambulatory resident in the independent living/retirement Pass the Get Active Questionnaire. If the participant has heart conditions, angina during daily living, balance, and bone or joint problems, then a Physician Clearance Form is required to be filled out and signed by the participant's family physician. Exclusion Criteria: Using assistive devices for mobility Being active (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity>1h/week) Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Pole Walking<br>Attending pole walking sessions. | Other: Pole Walking<br>* Group training sessions will be offered at the participating independent living/retirement communities. Training sessions will be held either indoors or outdoors, 2-3 times a week, for 20-60 min/session, over 12 weeks.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feasibility of pole walking intervention | We will assess feasibility by calculating participant consent rate and retention. | 5-10 minutes | 
| Protocol fidelity | We assess protocol fidelity (attached survey) by participants, peer/student-trainees, and staff after the Pole walking intervention. | 3-5 minutes | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Muscle strength | Assessed by sit-to-stand test and grip strength. | 3-5 minutes | 
| Gait and functional balance | Assessed gait and functional balance by timed up and go test. | 3-5 minutes | 
| Walking test | Assessed by 6-minute walking test with and without poles. | 5-10 minutes | 
| Imaged bone and muscle properties | Assessed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). | 20-30 minutes | 
| Total body lean and fat tissue mass, bone density at total body, hip and lumbar spine. | Assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) | 10-20 minutes | 
| Exercise confidence | Assessed by Exercise self-efficacy scale. | 3-5 minutes | 
| Nutrition | We will assess dietary intakes using food frequency questionnaire. | 20 minutes | 
| Fear of falling | Assessed by the 10-item falls efficacy scale. Scale consists of 10 questions with responses ranging from 1 (not confident at all) to 10 (very confident). Higher values are better outcomes. Sub-scale values are summed and total value is recorded. | 2-5 minutes | 
| Health-related quality of life | Assessed by the The Short Form (SF36) Health Survey. | 3-5 minutes | 
| Physical activity | We will record physical activity using activity monitors (accelerometers). | 7 days | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Patient oriented, Exercise intervention, Feasibility